Editorial

Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes

ISSN: 1755-4217

Article publication date: 15 June 2010

578

Citation

Milman, A. (2010), "Editorial", Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, Vol. 2 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/whatt.2010.40802caa.001

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2010, Emerald Group Publishing Limited


Editorial

Article Type: Editorial From: Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, Volume 2, Issue 3

Introduction

Welcome to Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes (WHATT) Vol. 2(3). Our aim is to make a practical and theoretical contribution to the sustainable development of the worldwide hospitality and tourism industry. Each theme issue addresses a significant industry challenge – starting from a strategic question and leading to outcomes that are practical and implementable. To accomplish this task, theme editors assemble a team of academics who collaborate with industry practitioners in the analysis and development of possible solutions. The intended outcome of peer review is a themed collection of clear and concisely written, accessible articles that contain insights, analysis and authoritative responses to industry challenges. I should like to thank Ady Milman, Fevzi Okumus and Duncan Dickson and their team of contributors for their extensive review and assessment of the contribution made by theme parks and attractions to social and economic sustainability.

If you have a key industry challenge in mind that you would like to address via a WHATT theme issue, do please contact me.

Richard Teare

Managing Editor, WHATT

How far do theme parks and attractions contribute to social and economic sustainability of destinations?

In this issue of WHATT, we examine whether and how theme parks and attractions contribute to the sustainability of destinations. To answer this question, first, we identified key topics and issues related to theme parks and attractions and invited scholars and industry professionals to contribute to this theme issue. Among numerous abstracts and papers submitted, we selected eight papers for this theme issue and provided detailed constructive feedback about how the authors could revise their papers to fit in well this theme issue. After the authors revised their papers, each paper was sent out to at least two reviewers for further feedback and each paper was revised again. Overall, 12 authors from six countries contributed to this issue. Some of the authors are well-known scholars in the theme park field where as some them have years of extensive managerial and consultancy experience in the theme park industry.

This thematic issue includes eight papers related to theme parks and attractions. The first paper by Ady Milman analyzes the dimensions and practices that have shaped the present global theme park industry. The paper first discusses the characteristics of the global theme park industry and provides a historical review of the evolution of theme parks. The paper than reports on the scope of the global theme park industry according to major geographical regions. The paper addresses the impact of theme parks on the economic sustainability of destinations.

In the second paper, Seiji Kawamura and Tadayuki Hara provide us a very interesting modern history of theme park developments in Japan and illustrate what type of challenges faced by theme parks in Japan. In particular, the authors looked at two of the comparable large-scale theme park developments in Japan and found that each theme park led to dramatically different operating results.

In the third paper, Joan C. Henderson reviews the characteristics of new style visitor attractions and their role in sustainable destination development with specific reference to two projects in Singapore. The author claims that large-scale purpose built facilities are seen to typify the new style of visitor attraction preferred by some officials and investors. They have the potential to be successful and contribute to sustainable destination development, but there are also some limitations to consider.

In the fourth paper, Pieter C.M. Cornelis presents the results of an econometric study explaining the variance in theme park visitor numbers and quantifying the effects of new attractions on theme park attendance. This paper provides interesting findings and discussions since investments in new attractions continue to rise within the theme park industry, knowledge regarding the effects of new attractions on theme park performance and attendance remains scarce. The research findings from this study indicate that all new attractions opened at one of the parks that the author analyzed had a positive long-term influence on attendance. This positive influence lasted for no more than two years. Industry operators can now use the econometric model presented in this paper to determine the effects of new attractions on their theme park’s attendance and use this knowledge to further fine-tune their investment policy. This paper presents one of the first econometric models successful at isolating and quantifying a new attraction’s effect on theme park attendance and can thus be a valuable tool in perfecting one’s investment policy.

In the fifth paper, Amir Shani and Abraham Pizam discuss the contribution of animal-based attractions to ecological causes – particularly wildlife conservation and environmental education – while portraying the debate regarding the legitimacy and effectiveness of these sites. Based on an extensive literature review, the authors provide examples and demonstrate the potential of animal-based attractions to support the causes of ecological sustainability. The paper is of value to relevant stakeholders including zoological professionals and animal activists, and it can raise awareness of certain aspects that may not have received adequate attention.

In the sixth paper, Brian Avery and Duncan R. Dickson discuss the evolution of safety in the theme parks and attractions and provide recommendations about how safety and security can be enhanced in theme parks and attractions. They first provide a brief historical review of the amusement industry. This is followed by a review of the evolution of safety both in the workplace and the amusement industry. The overview continues with a description of the characteristics of amusement ride and device safety in the USA. The paper finally addresses the impact amusement ride and device incidents are having on the industry efforts.

In the seventh paper, Judy Holcomb, Fevzi Okumus, and Anil Bilgihan present findings about what the top three Orlando theme parks, namely, WaltDisney World, Universal Orlando, and Sea World Parks and Entertainment report about their corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities. The authors content analyzed the three theme park companies’ web sites CSR reports and other related materials. This is perhaps one of the first papers looking at CSR activities of theme park companies. It provides practical implications about reporting of CSR activities for theme parks.

In the eighth paper, Ady Milman, Fevzi Okumus, and Duncan Dickson draw together the key outcomes from the entire collection and assess the relative contribution of theme parks and attractions to the social and economic sustainability of destinations.

We do hope that the papers included in this issue offer some insights into whether and how theme parks and attractions contribute to sustainability of destinations. It is hoped that this theme issue will be useful to theme park managers and executives, government officials, executives in tourism offices and in destination management organizations as well as researchers, students, and teachers. On behalf of the contributors, we hope that you enjoy reading the papers in this issue.

About the Theme Editors

Ady Milman is a Professor in the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida. During his tenure at UCF, he has also served as the Director of the Dick Pope Sr Institute for Tourism Studies, a research arm of the College. He earned a Master’s degree in Tourism Planning and Development from the University of Surrey in England, and a PhD in Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. His background includes extensive research, consulting, publications, public speaking, and presentations in the fields of hospitality, tourism, and strategic management. Dr Milman is on the editorial boards of the Journal of Travel Research, the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research, and other key publications in hospitality and tourism.

Fevzi Okumus is currently the Chair of the Hospitality Services Department at the UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management. Since 2007, he has been an Editor of International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management. He has a Master’s degree in International Hotel Management and a PhD in Strategic Hotel Management from Oxford Brookes University, UK. His teaching areas include strategic management, leadership development, strategic human resources management, strategic marketing, and international hospitality management. His research areas include strategy implementation, competitive advantage, learning organizations, crisis management, cross-cultural management, destination marketing, and developing countries. He serves on editorial boards of ten academic journals.

Duncan Dickson is an Assistant Professor in the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida. Prior to joining UCF, Dickson served almost 20 years with Walt Disney World, Co. were as Director of Casting he was very active in the creation, development, and teaching of numerous training programs. Among these programs where “Casting for a Role in the Show”, “View from a Disney Leader”, “Management Disney Style”, “The Disney Approach to People Management”, and “The Disney Keys to Quality Service”. The later he created as a program to take the Disney quality message to individuals unable to come to Central Florida. He also has held the following executive positions Director of Staffing/International – Vistana, and Vice President of Human Resources for Kelly Services.

Ady Milman, Fevzi Okumus, Duncan DicksonTheme Editors

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