Activity 1 – Read the information below and make notes (click here if you are not sure how to take notes)

Visitor attractions are a key component of both the tourism and leisure industries. A visitor attraction is a place that offers entertainment and enjoyment.

Attractions can be visited from a person’s home during their leisure time (This makes them part of the leisure industry) or they can be visited whilst on holiday (This makes them part of the tourism industry)

There are 2 main types of visitor attractions: 

• Natural attractions
• Built attractions

 

Natural attractions 

Natural attractions can include things like:

• Lakes
• Mountains
• Forests
• Rivers
• Beaches
• Coastlines
• Waterfalls
• National Parks
• Caves

Many natural attractions are free to visit but there are some which charge an admission fee and offer guides and tours.

Built attractions 

Built attractions fall into 5 categories:

• Historic buildings
• Museums and galleries
• Wildlife attractions
• Theme and leisure parks
• Industrial and cultural heritage

 

Historic buildings 

This category includes: 

• Monuments
• Castles
• Cathedrals
• Walls
• Historic houses and Stately homes

Examples:  UK – Edinburgh Castle, York Minster, Nelson’s Column, Tower of London

Examples: Overseas – Capitol – USA, Notre Dame – Paris, France

 

Museums and galleries 

This category includes:

• Museums
• Art galleries

Examples: UK – Natural History Museum London, National Portrait Gallery

Examples: Overseas – The Louvre – France, Anne Frank House – Amsterdam, Netherlands

 

Wildlife attractions 

This category includes:

• Zoos
• Safari Parks
• Aquariums

Examples: UK – The Deep, Chester Zoo, Yorkshire Wildlife Park

Examples: Overseas – Shanghai Zoo – China, New York Aquarium – USA

 

Theme and leisure Parks 

This category includes:

• Theme and amusement parks
• Leisure parks/sports complex

Examples: UK – Xscape, Alton Towers

Examples: Overseas – Disneyland Paris, PortAventura Park – Spain

 

Industrial and Cultural heritage 

This category includes:

• Industry related attractions
• Cultural heritage

Examples – UK – Globe Theatre, Stonehenge

Examples: Overseas – Berlin Wall Memorial

 

Although not typical visitor attractions, ‘dark tourism’ brings visitors to ‘attractions’ associated with death and tragedy such as:

• Ground Zero
• Auschwitz
• Catacombs

 

Activity 2 – Complete the Exam Questions Below

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5