Wellness and mental health are being discussed more openly / Shutterstock:PeopleImages.com - Yuri A
I t’s an amazing privilege to work in the attractions industry — helping to create experiences that educate, entertain, bring joy and change people’s understanding of the world.
It can also be a stressful, high-pressure industry. The cyclical, project-based nature of the themed entertainment sector can make it challenging to work in. Museum and heritage staff supporting visitors in understanding tough topics have an additional emotional burden, while zoo and aquaria workers are regularly exposed to animal injury, illness and death. And in a customer-facing industry, there’s always the potential for difficult and upsetting encounters.
The COVID-19 pandemic has put extra pressure on, with clients trying to make up for revenue lost during lockdowns by fast-tracking projects, leading to stressed, burned out staff. The cost of living crisis is seeing extra financial challenges, and inevitable layoffs.
On page 38 we speak to several industry experts grappling with how to better support attractions industry workers. They are open about their own mental health challenges — and that is key. The more people talk about their own experiences, the more others will feel comfortable sharing their feelings. We can learn from one another.
While some of the stigma around mental health issues has lessened, there’s still a long way to go. I spoke to someone very senior in a major entertainment company who told me about the severe anxiety he suffers. While he was happy to appear in the article, his employers were not comfortable with it — perhaps this shows how far we still have to go.
At the Themed Entertainment Association’s INSPIRE conference in March 2024, a panel explored some of the challenges faced by members, including addiction, anxiety, depression and perfectionism. Over the following days and weeks, the panellists were approached by colleagues sharing their own stories, and pleading for more support.
As a result, the TEA has launched a Wellness Council with the aim of destigmatising mental health issues and supporting the wellbeing of members.
There are other inspiring ideas and initiatives on page 38, but is enough being done? We’d love to hear from you on this topic — please do get in touch.
People: Jess French
The children’s author sees her fantastical creations brought to life at Chester Zoo
Interview: Peter Slavenburg
As Drents Museum in the Netherlands launches a radically new collection presentation, we speak to the designer about doing things differently
Talking point: A helping hand
Attractions industry workers need support more than ever, but is enough being done? We speak to some experts putting wellness and mental health first
Planetarium: Looking up
Bringing people together under the dark skies of Arizona, Lowell Observatory’s new Astronomy Discovery Center is truly unique
Waterpark: Desert Oasis: Qiddiya Aquarabia
The largest waterpark in the Middle East is set to open in Saudi Arabia in 2026, and it’s going to be huge. We speak to the team behind this epic development
Museums: Nintendo Museum: Play on
Giant controllers, consoles operated by visitors’ shadows and a game based on Japanese poems... The Nintendo Museum opens in Kyoto
Technology: Kyle Morrand: The power of play
The CEO of 302 Interactive is using AR, VR and other technologies to solve real world problems, and transform the attractions industry. He shares his game plan
Interview: Dominic Jones
From a game-changing partnership to getting creative with budget technologies, the CEO of the Mary Rose Trust is bringing his commercial nous to the museum world
Research: In the heart of it
City centre attractions are transforming to meet the needs of experience-hungry visitors, but where are they headed next?
Wellness and mental health are being discussed more openly / Shutterstock:PeopleImages.com - Yuri A
I t’s an amazing privilege to work in the attractions industry — helping to create experiences that educate, entertain, bring joy and change people’s understanding of the world.
It can also be a stressful, high-pressure industry. The cyclical, project-based nature of the themed entertainment sector can make it challenging to work in. Museum and heritage staff supporting visitors in understanding tough topics have an additional emotional burden, while zoo and aquaria workers are regularly exposed to animal injury, illness and death. And in a customer-facing industry, there’s always the potential for difficult and upsetting encounters.
The COVID-19 pandemic has put extra pressure on, with clients trying to make up for revenue lost during lockdowns by fast-tracking projects, leading to stressed, burned out staff. The cost of living crisis is seeing extra financial challenges, and inevitable layoffs.
On page 38 we speak to several industry experts grappling with how to better support attractions industry workers. They are open about their own mental health challenges — and that is key. The more people talk about their own experiences, the more others will feel comfortable sharing their feelings. We can learn from one another.
While some of the stigma around mental health issues has lessened, there’s still a long way to go. I spoke to someone very senior in a major entertainment company who told me about the severe anxiety he suffers. While he was happy to appear in the article, his employers were not comfortable with it — perhaps this shows how far we still have to go.
At the Themed Entertainment Association’s INSPIRE conference in March 2024, a panel explored some of the challenges faced by members, including addiction, anxiety, depression and perfectionism. Over the following days and weeks, the panellists were approached by colleagues sharing their own stories, and pleading for more support.
As a result, the TEA has launched a Wellness Council with the aim of destigmatising mental health issues and supporting the wellbeing of members.
There are other inspiring ideas and initiatives on page 38, but is enough being done? We’d love to hear from you on this topic — please do get in touch.
People: Jess French
The children’s author sees her fantastical creations brought to life at Chester Zoo
Interview: Peter Slavenburg
As Drents Museum in the Netherlands launches a radically new collection presentation, we speak to the designer about doing things differently
Talking point: A helping hand
Attractions industry workers need support more than ever, but is enough being done? We speak to some experts putting wellness and mental health first
Planetarium: Looking up
Bringing people together under the dark skies of Arizona, Lowell Observatory’s new Astronomy Discovery Center is truly unique
Waterpark: Desert Oasis: Qiddiya Aquarabia
The largest waterpark in the Middle East is set to open in Saudi Arabia in 2026, and it’s going to be huge. We speak to the team behind this epic development
Museums: Nintendo Museum: Play on
Giant controllers, consoles operated by visitors’ shadows and a game based on Japanese poems... The Nintendo Museum opens in Kyoto
Technology: Kyle Morrand: The power of play
The CEO of 302 Interactive is using AR, VR and other technologies to solve real world problems, and transform the attractions industry. He shares his game plan
Interview: Dominic Jones
From a game-changing partnership to getting creative with budget technologies, the CEO of the Mary Rose Trust is bringing his commercial nous to the museum world
Research: In the heart of it
City centre attractions are transforming to meet the needs of experience-hungry visitors, but where are they headed next?
Expo 2030 Riyadh is being planned as a permanent visitor destination, with organisers
confirming the six-million-square-metre site will become a Global Village after the event closes.
The owner of one of Australia's best-known waterparks has acquired a major competitor,
creating a new attractions business spanning two of the country's largest visitor destinations.
The Toverland theme park in the Netherlands has announced a €98m expansion programme
that will add a resort, new attractions and staff facilities as it pursues plans to become a multi-
day destination.
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii
is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder
Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while
remaining actively involved with the company.
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th
anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s
longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its
recently launched Sirene Island themed area and introduce younger visitors to thrill attractions.
A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’
planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford–
Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism inv
