This research paper is a critical analysis of visitor pressure in amusement parks. Overtourism and visitor pressure are growing themes in the tourism industry and in destination management. Different, big cities are affected. The phenomenon will be supported with a case study of an amusement park as an artificial destination – Europa Park in Germany.
The development towards overtourism and stakeholder relations are analysed in view of facing issues for the park itself and the main stakeholders on the micro level: the residents, the employees and the visitors. The transition from a day attraction towards a short-trip destination is used to show the process of growing visitor numbers.
Afterwards, critical issues like pollution, through traffic, and further developments are analysed considering the different stakeholders. Finally, recommendations are given to deal with problems of visitor pressure in amusement parks.
Table of Contents
1) Introduction
2) The case
3) Literature review
4) Analysis
5) Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This research paper aims to provide a critical analysis of visitor pressure within amusement parks, specifically examining the case of Europa Park in Germany. It explores the transition of the park from a local day-trip attraction to a major international short-trip destination and evaluates how this growth impacts various stakeholders, including residents, employees, and visitors, while addressing the challenges of managing such an "artificial destination."
- The phenomenon of overtourism and its applicability to amusement parks.
- Transition management theory in the context of destination development.
- Stakeholder dynamics and social relations in host communities.
- Strategies for balancing business growth with environmental and social sustainability.
- Infrastructure challenges, particularly traffic and capacity management.
Excerpt from the Book
1) Introduction
As a fast-evolving industry, many places in the world are in the process of becoming a tourism destination. To deal and act with tourism, Hartmann (2018) names 3 different ways. Firstly, tourism can be seen as an intruder of space and/or in competition or incompatible with other functions like agriculture. Secondly, tourism is an economic opportunity and used to reach quantitative goals in policies. Thirdly, also societal goal like sustainable development can be reached.
This research paper is written to present a critical analysis of the case Europa Park in Germany dealing with the previously mentioned ideas and challenges of tourism. By now, it is the biggest amusement park in Germany and one of the bigger ones worldwide (Europa-Park GmbH & Co Mack KG, 2019). The paper aims to critically reflect on the problems of overtourism in amusement parks as well as the related stakeholder relations. Therefore, it has to be considered that the chosen case is particular in its kind as an artificial destination.
But when can we talk about overtourism in amusement parks? The aim is to show the possibilities and hurdles of change and improvements with a critical point of view to acquire an understanding of societal forces and entrepreneurial decision makings in the context of visitor pressure. Therefore, the problem statement was created as follows:
How has the Europa Park developed towards visitor pressure and how do different stakeholders deal with it?
Summary of Chapters
1) Introduction: This chapter introduces the research context, defining tourism’s role in societal development and establishing the research goal regarding visitor pressure at Europa Park.
2) The case: This section provides a historical overview of Europa Park, its transformation into a short-trip destination, and key operational facts from 2017/18.
3) Literature review: The chapter defines core concepts such as visitor pressure and overtourism, and introduces transition management theory to analyze the park's evolutionary development.
4) Analysis: This part examines the nonlinear development of the park, focusing on stakeholder interactions, traffic infrastructure, and the social impact on the local community of Rust.
5) Conclusion: The final chapter synthesizes the research findings, confirming that strong stakeholder relationships are key to managing future growth and visitor pressure.
Keywords
amusement parks, visitor pressure, overtourism, transition, stakeholders, artificial destination, capacity, Rust, tourism management, sustainability, infrastructure, social impact, hospitality, visitor experience, seasonal development
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper provides a critical analysis of visitor pressure in amusement parks, using Europa Park in Germany as a primary case study to understand the challenges of destination growth.
What are the central themes addressed in this work?
Central themes include the transition of amusement parks into short-trip destinations, the management of overtourism, stakeholder relations, and the balance between economic development and local quality of life.
What is the primary research question?
The study seeks to answer: "How has the Europa Park developed towards visitor pressure and how do different stakeholders deal with it?"
Which scientific method is utilized in this study?
The author employs a case study approach, utilizing transition management theory and literature analysis to examine the evolutionary growth of the park and its impact on the micro-level stakeholders.
What topics are covered in the main body of the paper?
The main body covers the historical development of Europa Park, the application of transition models, an analysis of stakeholder relationships (residents, employees, visitors), and current/future infrastructure challenges like traffic management.
Which keywords best characterize this research?
Key terms include amusement parks, visitor pressure, overtourism, transition management, artificial destination, stakeholder engagement, and sustainable development.
How does the park manage traffic pressure in the local community of Rust?
The park works with the municipality on masterplans for traffic and parking, implements signal systems to optimize car flow, and explores innovative solutions like a proposed cable car to reduce road traffic.
What role do the residents of Rust play in the development of the park?
Residents are viewed as essential stakeholders; the park engages with them through civic forums, provides local benefits, and considers their hospitality capacity in its long-term development plans.
How does the concept of "artificial destination" influence the study?
It highlights that unlike natural cities, amusement parks are self-created spaces, which complicates the typical assessment of "overtourism" as the environment is specifically engineered for tourism.
- Quote paper
- Max Hoffmeister (Author), 2019, Visitor pressure in amusement parks, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/492946
