Thursday, March 28, 2024

Issue 72 Editorials

Blind spots
Martin Palicki, IPM publisher

 

 

Times have changed since theme parks and museums first started welcoming guests primarily from their local communities. Nowadays, a museum guest could well be visiting from another continent, bringing with them a host of different life experiences and values. We truly are living in a global village of entertainment and tourism.

This shrinking of the globe necessitates introspection – hopefully we see things with a wider, clearer perspective. That’s why, today, we question things that formerly may have seemed benign. We take a fresh, more critical look at the bride auction scene in the original Pirates attraction, or why a park in the American South might consign the Confederate flag to history.

It’s a natural evolution of our industry and one we should embrace for what it has to teach us about our own biases and perceptions. It’s about accessibility, inclusion and diversity. Moving forward, as the storytellers and creators of experiences, we must remember that representation matters. How people, places and events are depicted can influence how guests experience what we create. Let’s try to be as welcoming to people as possible.

 

Creating destinations
Judith Rubin, IPM editor

 

 

As an industry connector, InPark tends to look at the visitor attractions business from the project viewpoint. Where is the work? Who are the players? What are the trends?

But we all know that a truly successful project is one that has an audience that grows year over year, and a positive economic impact on its community. It must enhance its location as a destination. If it is successful, it will likely also be influential.

In this issue, we’ve explored a number of projects that promise to help transform their regions as catalysts of construction, business, tourism, job creation, cultural identity and civic pride – in addition to raising the bar for creative and technical innovation. That’s what the best projects do. Their benefits are felt on the local, regional and international scale.

We hope you enjoy and learn from our exploration of Dubai Expo 2020, Universal Studios Beijing, the National Comedy Center, Liberty Science Center, the St. Louis Aquarium and more.

Joe Kleiman
Joe Kleimanhttp://wwww.themedreality.com
Raised in San Diego on theme parks, zoos, and IMAX films, InPark's Senior Correspondent Joe Kleiman would expand his childhood loves into two decades as a projectionist and theater director within the giant screen industry. In addition to his work in commercial and museum operations, Joe has volunteered his time to animal husbandry at leading facilities in California and Texas and has played a leading management role for a number of performing arts companies. Joe previously served as News Editor and has remained a contributing author to InPark Magazine since 2011. HIs writing has also appeared in Sound & Communications, LF Examiner, Jim Hill Media, The Planetarian, Behind the Thrills, and MiceChat His blog, ThemedReality.com takes an unconventional look at the attractions industry. Follow on twitter @ThemesRenewed Joe lives in Sacramento, California with his wife, dog, and a ghost.

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