Current Issues in Tourism
Editor: C. Michael Hall (Department of Management, College of Business and Economics, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand) and Chris Cooper (Foundation Professor of Tourism, University of Queensland, Australia) Michael and Chris are joint editor of the book series Aspects of Tourism. Reviews Editor John Jenkins (University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia)
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Volume: 7 Number: 2 Page: 146–180
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Visitor Attractions in Northern Ireland: The Relationship between Visitor Number Performance and Ownership Type 1990–2002
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Lesley-Ann Wilson
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The visitor attractions market in Northern Ireland is in a state of flux, having experienced a tidal wave of investment between 1990 and 2002, simultaneouslywith continuing political stability. This research provides a longitudinal study of visitor numbers to attractions in relation
to ownership type. Prior to the 1960s Government Departments and the National Trust predominantlymanaged Northern Ireland's attractions. Seventynew attractions developed byprivate owners and local authorities opened in the 1990s resulting in a phenomenal number of new museums and visitor centres,
decreasing averages of visitors per attraction generally, and saturation of the market especiallyin the south of the region. The research profiles the characteristics of 195 attractions byownership type and looks at visitor numbers to a sample of 83 attractions for which there was comparable
data between 1996 and 2002. Discussion centres on the contrast in performance between government owned attractions, which, unlike their UK counterparts, have declined in visitor numbers, and National Trust attractions which have out performed the two new categories of ownership in terms of
percentage growth. Four scenarios are presented in relation to product management and discussed in relation to policyconsiderations, sustainabilityand qualitymanagement and training development. If closures of attractions are to be avoided, visitor numbers will need to grow at an accelerated
rate and this can onlyhappen within a secure political environment and with enhanced quality management in the sector.
Keywords: VISITOR ATTRACTIONS, OWNERSHIP, MARKET SATURATION, SUSTAINABILITY, QUALITY, MANAGEMENT
© 2004 Channel View Publications
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