In an ever more polarised world, the attractions industry plays a key role by providing shared experiences and reminding us that we’re not so different
Play has many benefits for adults / Photo: Kamil Macniak/Shutterstock
W hether it’s the US election, conflict in the Middle East, or just people arguing on social media, everything feels incredibly polarised right now.
In a world where extremes of opinion are making people feel ever-more divided, the attractions industry has a unique role to play.
Museums can help us learn from the past, showing us where escalating tensions and historical divides have led us. Knowledge and understanding can help build bridges and counter ignorance and fear.
But it’s not just about education. We’re learning more and more about the crucial role play holds in our lives, and it’s something many adults forget. Dr Stuart Brown, founder of the National Institute for Play in the US, has carried out research showing that a life devoid of play can lead to depression, stress-related illnesses and a decreased immune system, and on a societal level, can lead to higher rates of rage, violence and crime.
We may hold wildly differing opinions but we all have an inner child that wants to play and be carefree. On page 40 Meow Wolf founder Vince Kadlubek explores the role attractions can play in healing division. He says: “Our industry provides a miraculous opportunity for people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and character to co-exist in the communion of exploration.
“If that communion can be felt for even the slightest moment, it has the profound power to short-circuit the mechanisms of judgement and remind us that we’re loving and forgiving beings.”
I experienced this a couple of years ago, during a visit to an outdoor zoo attraction. It was during the pandemic, and I had a disagreement with another visitor about social distancing and mask wearing. The conversation was getting heated – each of us entrenched in our positions – when suddenly a bear started climbing a tree. We both reacted in exactly the same way – our faces lit up with joy – and suddenly our differences were forgotten and we found ourselves smiling at the way we had shared this moment.
Play allows us to take ourselves less seriously, and that’s very much needed right now. Whether crawling through an immersive installation, screaming on a rollercoaster or interacting with a work of art, we can put aside our opinions and prejudices, be in the moment, and just play.
People: Clara Rice
The director of global marketing for Adirondack Studios shares her plans
Interview: Delphine Pons
As Parc Asterix launches a new themed land and celebrates record attendance figures, its CEO tells us what’s next for the much-loved French park
First person: The power of play
Can the power of play help heal divides in our world? Can art and attractions bring people closer? Meow Wolf’s founder is sure that it can
Museum: Lighting the way
With major new museums taking shape in Jeddah and Abu Dhabi, digital art sensation teamLab are riding high. We speak to the team
Opinion: We need a revolution
It’s time for radical thinking to address the staffing crisis in our industry, argues Margreet Papamichael
Tourism: On the road
With its Scenic Routes project, Norway has turned the road trip into an attraction, and boosted tourism in a huge way. Terry Stevens gets behind the wheel
Museums: Mark Cutmore
What’s the future of immersive technology in museums? The head of commercial experiences at the Science Museum Group shares his thoughts
Research: Joined up thinking
Natural history museums around the world are sharing details of their collections to help find solutions to some of the most urgent issues of our time
The arts: Show time
As the UK’s biggest cultural venue for decades opens, we hear from the team behind Aviva Studios
Research: Making memories
The link between the emotions of visitors and their memories of an experience helps shape their reactions. Researcher Wim Strijbosch explores his findings
In an ever more polarised world, the attractions industry plays a key role by providing shared experiences and reminding us that we’re not so different
Play has many benefits for adults / Photo: Kamil Macniak/Shutterstock
W hether it’s the US election, conflict in the Middle East, or just people arguing on social media, everything feels incredibly polarised right now.
In a world where extremes of opinion are making people feel ever-more divided, the attractions industry has a unique role to play.
Museums can help us learn from the past, showing us where escalating tensions and historical divides have led us. Knowledge and understanding can help build bridges and counter ignorance and fear.
But it’s not just about education. We’re learning more and more about the crucial role play holds in our lives, and it’s something many adults forget. Dr Stuart Brown, founder of the National Institute for Play in the US, has carried out research showing that a life devoid of play can lead to depression, stress-related illnesses and a decreased immune system, and on a societal level, can lead to higher rates of rage, violence and crime.
We may hold wildly differing opinions but we all have an inner child that wants to play and be carefree. On page 40 Meow Wolf founder Vince Kadlubek explores the role attractions can play in healing division. He says: “Our industry provides a miraculous opportunity for people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and character to co-exist in the communion of exploration.
“If that communion can be felt for even the slightest moment, it has the profound power to short-circuit the mechanisms of judgement and remind us that we’re loving and forgiving beings.”
I experienced this a couple of years ago, during a visit to an outdoor zoo attraction. It was during the pandemic, and I had a disagreement with another visitor about social distancing and mask wearing. The conversation was getting heated – each of us entrenched in our positions – when suddenly a bear started climbing a tree. We both reacted in exactly the same way – our faces lit up with joy – and suddenly our differences were forgotten and we found ourselves smiling at the way we had shared this moment.
Play allows us to take ourselves less seriously, and that’s very much needed right now. Whether crawling through an immersive installation, screaming on a rollercoaster or interacting with a work of art, we can put aside our opinions and prejudices, be in the moment, and just play.
People: Clara Rice
The director of global marketing for Adirondack Studios shares her plans
Interview: Delphine Pons
As Parc Asterix launches a new themed land and celebrates record attendance figures, its CEO tells us what’s next for the much-loved French park
First person: The power of play
Can the power of play help heal divides in our world? Can art and attractions bring people closer? Meow Wolf’s founder is sure that it can
Museum: Lighting the way
With major new museums taking shape in Jeddah and Abu Dhabi, digital art sensation teamLab are riding high. We speak to the team
Opinion: We need a revolution
It’s time for radical thinking to address the staffing crisis in our industry, argues Margreet Papamichael
Tourism: On the road
With its Scenic Routes project, Norway has turned the road trip into an attraction, and boosted tourism in a huge way. Terry Stevens gets behind the wheel
Museums: Mark Cutmore
What’s the future of immersive technology in museums? The head of commercial experiences at the Science Museum Group shares his thoughts
Research: Joined up thinking
Natural history museums around the world are sharing details of their collections to help find solutions to some of the most urgent issues of our time
The arts: Show time
As the UK’s biggest cultural venue for decades opens, we hear from the team behind Aviva Studios
Research: Making memories
The link between the emotions of visitors and their memories of an experience helps shape their reactions. Researcher Wim Strijbosch explores his findings
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
+ More news
COMPANY PROFILES
Simworx Ltd The company was initially established
in 1997. Terry Monkton and Andrew
Roberts are the key stakeh [more...]
Taylor Made Designs Founded in 1993, Taylor Made
Designs supply corporate clothing
and brand-enhancing merchandise
to [more...]
Alterface Alterface’s Creative Division team is
seasoned in concept and ride development,
as well as storyte [more...]
Sally Corporation Our services include: Dark ride design & build; Redevelopment of existing attractions; High-quality [more...]
