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As Efteling makes moves towards carbon neutrality, the theme park operator has announced that its popular coal-powered trains are set to make the switch to electric energy


Changes set to be made to Disney’s Disability Access Service will punish those with disabilities rather than prevent use by able-bodied ‘disability fakers’, a group has said


Attractions.io has expanded the capability of its technology with the launch of its new Indoor Mapping tool - a system designed to help map complex indoor spaces for visitors


Turner Classic Movies and Warner Bros Studio Tour Hollywood have collaborated on a new tour experience taking visitors through the history of classic cinema on the Warner Bros lot


Chuck E. Cheese and the American Society for Deaf Children have partnered up on an initiative that aims to foster greater inclusivity for children who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families


The record-breaking Bermuda Storm is one of the most impressive attractions in the world and it took a host of creative minds and companies from every corner of the globe to bring it all together. Here’s the story behind its creation


MSC Cruises has unveiled Cliffhanger - a new attraction coming to its upcoming World America vessel that will give riders a one of a kind of experience as they swing out 50m above the ocean


Space tourism has a new competitor, with company Halo Space unveiling its Aurora space capsule ahead of its first public flights in 2026


The event so bad the police were called is set to make its return, with Zach Galifianakis and the ‘sad Oompa Loompa’ Kirsty Paterson both set to appear in the reimagined version of the infamous Willy’s Chocolate Experience in Los Angeles later this month


Simworx is expanding its business with a move into the sports entertainment sector, announcing a partnership with C360 View that will see the development of a ‘groundbreaking’ stadium viewing experience


Already the largest of its kind in Europe, here’s how the Signal light festival worked with Christie to bring the spectacle to life


Disney’s dispute with Florida governor Ron DeSantis seems to be over with the entertainment giant agreeing to end litigation involving the special tourism district that oversees governance of the Disney World resort


Merlin Entertainments continues to focus on its attractions ‘mega clusters’ with the operator announcing its reacquisition of Orlando’s iconic giant wheel


Saudi Arabia’s mega-investment into its tourism and attractions industry continues with the kingdom announcing plans to open a world-first Dragon Ball theme park in Qiddiya City


English Heritage is testing body-worn cameras at four of the national organisation’s sites in an attempt to deter anti-social behaviour and crime, as well as to protect its staff during ‘confrontational situations’


Mattel has announced plans to build a second US theme park, with Kansas set to feature attractions inspired by Barbie, Hot Wheels, Thomas & Friends and more


France’s Ampere Museum has uncovered a hidden gem in its reserves, with the only complete and authentic version of the Einstein-de Haas experiment set to go on display at the attraction in April


Aura: The Forest at the Edge of the Sky is among the outstanding projects to be recognised with a Thea Award, with the Weta Workshop celebrating its achievements in creating the multisensory retail experience


BoldMove’s expanded Smash and Reload formats, as well as its new Voodoo Festival IP will be a key focus for the company through 2024


Saudi Arabia’s tourism push is gaining momentum with more than US$13bn of private investment attracted by the kingdom’s ongoing spending spree


With the entertainment industry expected to contribute around US$23bn to Saudi Arabia by 2030, it’s no wonder that SEA Expo continues to grow at pace with the rapidly expanding market. Here’s what to expect for its sixth edition this May


Convious says it’s planning to unleash the power of dynamic pricing in 2024 with the company set to introduce new features designed to align with evolving consumer behaviour


The Smithsonian Institution will introduce a new policy on human remains that will see descendants or communities of origin able to decide what happens to their ancestors


Legoland Windsor’s Minifigure Speedway has been given the green light to open later this month


Triotech has a big year ahead, with the company’s year including new theme park openings across Asia, the Middle East and Europe


Alterface has a number of major projects and products set to launch in 2024, with its interactive technology utilised in the recently opened SpongeBob attraction at Circus Circus


From Circuit Breaker at Cotaland to Flight of the Wicked Witch at Warner Bros Movie World, Vekoma’s 2024 has been hailed as ‘unprecedented’ with the rollercoaster manufacturer set for a number of major project launches across the world in the coming year


Specialists in media-based attractions, Simworx has a busy year on the cards in 2024 with a range of different projects set to be delivered worldwide


There’s a trend on social media that is seeing more and more virtual and AI influencers gain significant popularity, should you be using them to promote your attractions? Tom Anstey explores...


As staff at the Eiffel Tower continue to strike over the monument's management, France’s culture minister has suggested classifying the iconic building as a national monument, which would allow the state to help fund necessary works


WWE is offering the ‘ultimate’ five-day fan experience during the week of this year’s Wrestlemania, with WWE World offering a host of immersive experiences, exhibits and interactions this April


Fans of My Neighbor Totoro will finally get the chance to ride the iconic Catbus for real starting next month when a fleet of special vehicles make their debut at Japan’s Ghibli Park


Normandy’s historic D-Day landing beaches could finally be named a Unesco World Heritage Site with the cultural organisation now ready to consider a new application 80 years on from the event that marked the beginning of Europe’s liberation from the Nazis


Ripley’s is offering out its latest annual free of charge after some of its titles were pulled from school libraries as a direct result of Florida’s controversial law restricting the discussion of LGBTQ+ issues in public schools.


John Wick is the latest major IP to be announced for Las Vegas’s immersive entertainment district Area15, with the new experience taking visitors inside the world of the franchise as they navigate their own high-stakes action adventure


Gone are the days of stuffy and quiet museums. In today's world, people seek unique experiences, an escape from reality, and a place where they can immerse themselves and express their creativity. With this in mind, we have asked our designers about the trends that are currently shaping museums. Read on to discover their insights


Belgium’s Bellewaerde Park is investing €21m in a new themed land for 2024. Erik Huijing visited Mundo Amazonia ahead of its opening next month to get a behind the scenes look at the upcoming addition to the park


Saudi Arabia’s tourism push is hitting the rails with the country investing US$75m into an Orient Express-style luxury train that will travel to two of the Kingdom’s World Heritage Sites


Legendary professional wrestler Triple H has shared a first look at The Undertaker’s Graveyard Escape - an attraction coming to the all new WWE Experience, set to open this week in Riyadh


From waterpark suppliers and media specialists to creative designers, dark ride producers and operations specialists, Planet Attractions has gone to every corner of the globe to find out what’s hot in 2024


Work will soon start on a multi-million dollar development in North Dakota, with the Wave Waterpark Resort in Fargo, North Dakota, set to open in February 2026


Blenheim Palace has announced a ‘groundbreaking’ organic waste project that will act as a ‘major step’ towards such sites meeting net zero sustainability goals


With records for the tallest, fastest and longest rollercoaster all set to be broken by a single ride, it should give you an idea of the kind of thrills in-store for thrillseekers this year as we list 26 of the biggest coaster launches coming in 2024


A new trackless dark ride is coming to Cadbury World following Merlin’s acquisition of the popular British attraction, with Cadbury Chocolate Quest taking visitors on a journey to make a real bar of chocolate


Charity organisation Survival International has called on Prince Harry to ‘distance himself’ from African Parks and step down from its board, after allegations emerged accusing some of its guards of abuse against Indigenous people


BTS are on their way to the Philippines with an immersive exhibition dedicated to the K-Pop sensations set to make its debut in the country in May


The game changing Epic Universe has been dubbed Universal’s ‘most ambitious theme park yet’, with the operator offering a first official look at its fourth Orlando gate


The Giant has its first location, with the mammoth moving attraction and accompanying exhibition set to open at the American Dream Mall in New Jersey, US, in 2025


Japanese authorities are fighting over tourism on Mount Fuji by announcing plans to introduce a toll and visitor cap on the World Heritage site’s most popular hiking trail


The American Heritage Museum has unveiled the restoration of a WWII-era German Deutsche Reichsbahn Rail Car in the first phase of a project aiming to develop a comprehensive permanent exhibit remembering the Holocaust


Tom Hanks is bringing visitors to the moon and back with a new immersive experience co-written by the actor currently on show at London’s Lightroom


Nominations are open ahead of the sixth edition of the annual MENALAC Awards, with the event set to celebrate the best in class for leisure and attractions in the MENA region


Entering 2024, companies across the attractions and themed entertainment industries are on the hunt for new talent. Check out some of the positions available right now worldwide


Melbourne’s Sea Life aquarium has undergone a major transformation, with the Merlin attraction’s Oceanarium undergoing an AU$9m redevelopment to turn it into the bioluminescent Night on the Reef exhibit


An Australian natural heritage attraction will undergo a significant renovation project to protect the site and streamline the visitor experience


A cultural attraction dedicated to China’s Great Wall will become a national museum when it reopens in 2025 following an extensive renovation


Just a quick message from everyone at Planet Attractions to say thank you and to wish you a happy holiday


New research has said that the children and family entertainment centre sector will be worth US$30.7bn by 2032, with the market growing by more than 10% each year


Orlando could be about to welcome a major new attraction, with Ocean Sports Development leading a US$45m (€41.1m, £35.6m) project anchored around a 52,000sq m (566,000sq ft) pool capable of producing artificial waves - the first of many planned for locations across the US.


A new visitor attraction dedicated to Manchester City has opened its doors in Abu Dhabi, with the new City Challenge offering visitors a chance to show off their footballing skills through a range of immersive experiences


The English town of Bedford could be a surprising contender for Universal’s next theme park and resort development, with the operator confirming plans are ‘at the early stages’ for what would be a landmark attraction destination for the UK


Alterface is eyeing malls and FECs in China for its Action League Interactive Thrill Ride, after the company announced its first such attraction in the country is set to open at Suzhou Paradise Forest World in May next year


Argentina no longer has a Ministry of Culture after its new President Javier Milei abolished the government office one day into his four year tenure


European tourism and attractions consultants TDAC have added former Disney Imagineer Scott Ault to its growing team of industry experts


A major new addition is coming to Japan’s Yomiuriland, with the operator announcing plans to develop a nature-based Pokémon theme park at its home in Tokyo


As the MENA attractions market continues to surge, DEAL represents one of the most important business opportunities of 2024. Abdul Rahman Falaknaz, president of show organisers International Expo-Consults speaks about this year’s upcoming event


A new attraction from developer HyperSpace has opened its doors in Riyadh, with the ‘digital theme park’ acting as a hybrid of content creation arena and videogame for its visitors


Legendary rock band Kiss have promised to ‘change music performance history’, after unveiling their own digital avatars and announcing a special stage show working with the likes of Thierry Coup, Industrial Light & Magic, and Pophouse Entertainment Group


You can now pass beyond the doors of the Hobbiton Movie set in New Zealand, with director Sir Peter Jackson behind the development of two ‘83% human size’ Hobbit holes for visitors to explore


Sansei Technologies has announced the acquisition of leading experience design firm Forrec, with the Japanese ride and equipment manufacturer promising to elevate the guest experience through the new partnership


Universal has unveiled the name of its upcoming children’s theme park and resort destination, with Universal Kids Resort set to open in Frisco in 2026


The soon-to-open Wisdome Stockholm at Tekniska Museet is the latest development as part of a national project to boost STEM activities and encourage sustainable construction methods across Sweden


Storyland Studios is behind the development of Libertyland USA - a world class theme park and resort development coming to South Dakota in 2026


Saudi Arabia has won a bid to host World Expo 2030 in Riyadh, with US$7.8bn set to be invested into building a site that focuses on ‘shaping a prosperous and sustainable future’


Scruffy Dog and Sela have teamed up to produce Wonder Garden - an immersive experience offering ‘limitless creativity’ during Riyadh Season


Kids Industries has created a range of immersive experiences such as Legoland’s Lego Mythica: World of Mythical Creatures. Its CEO, Gary Pope, shares his thoughts on the arrival of Netflix’s recently-launched ‘Squid Game: The Challenge’ and how this reflects on the growing LBE market


Formula 1 and Tottenham Hotspur are joining forces to deliver a first-of-its-kind karting experience that will allow people of all abilities to feel as though they are part of an F1 Grand Prix


September saw the debut of a brand-new addition to Salt Lake City’s Lagoon Park - a hybrid rollercoaster and dark ride experience known as Primordial. Planet Attractions speaks to Ernest Yale and Nol Van Genuchten about the experience and how its team brought the first-of-its-kind attraction to life


Intamin’s Lukas Spieldiener speaks to Planet Attractions on the launch of a number of immersive projects this year, with further such attractions also in the pipeline for 2024 and beyond


Bringing together some of the industry’s leading suppliers under one banner, the Attractions Technology Lab returns to Orlando next month to showcase a complete technical mock-up of a dark ride experience, with a behind the scenes look at how such an attraction comes to life


The Messi Experience - an immersive visitor attraction dedicated to global footballing megastar Lionel Messi - will open its doors in Miami in April next year


The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex has debuted a brand new 3D digital display at its entrance, with a six minute show offering guests a look at the past, present and future of the US space programme


A major cultural attraction has opened its doors in Manchester, with the £210m Aviva Studios representing the largest investment in a national cultural project since the opening of Tate Modern in 2000


Attractions.io has partnered with Alton Towers to introduce an industry-first in-app dynamic lighting map to be utilised at the operator’s popular Scarefest and Ultimate Fireworks Spectacular events


A new free-roaming immersive Angry Birds experience has made its debut, with the Pigvasion sending players on a mission to recover stolen eggs from some villainous pigs


Morty - an experience app which describes itself as ‘the ultimate social copilot for you and your friends’ - has raised more than US$2.2m as the company expands operations into the haunted attractions market


Benoit Cornet shares a fascinating insight into the world of dark rides and the emergence of his new company - BoldMove Nation


Bowling operator Lane7 has announced the launch of its largest site to date, with further plans to open its first location in the British capital and its first site overseas as the company continues to grow


The Association of Science and Technology Centers has announced the winners of this year’s Roy L. Shafer Leading Edge Awards, with each recognised for their dedication to increasing the understanding of and engagement with science and technology among all people


A redeveloped shopping venue will soon become home to Immersive Fort Tokyo - an all new immersive theme park experience which its developers say will be the first of its kind


Seattle Aquarium is promising comic mischief following the launch of an Animal Crossing exhibit at the popular attraction with the Nintendo partnership running through to the end of the year


Record numbers of retailers and visitors from France, Germany, Italy and Spain were in attendance at this year’s Brand Licensing Europe (BLE), with this year’s event placing special emphasis on location based entertainment (LBE).


Intamin, Simworx and Vekoma are among the winners in this year’s Park World Excellence Awards, with 2023’s recipients named at a glamorous show in Vienna, Austria


One of the Isle of Wight’s most popular attractions is up for sale, with Robin Hill now on the market following a ‘prolonged period of financial turbulence’


IAAPA Expo Europe has come to its conclusion, with lots of news coming out of the record-breaking event in Vienna


Triotech has announced the launch of its latest project - a ‘next generation interactive dark coaster at Salt Lake City’s Lagoon Park


RWS Global will in attendance at this year’s IAAPA Expo Europe to discuss major projects including the opening of the Hasbro City FEC, as well as several cruise line and resort partnerships


There’s a transformative shift happening when it comes to use of technology in attractions management. Anthony Palermo, co-founder of Connect&GO, spoke to Tom Anstey...


IAAPA is gearing up for its largest EMEA event ever, with the 2023 edition of IAAPA Expo Europe taking place in Vienna between September 25 - 28. Here’s everything you need to know about the event


The Pokémon Company has announced an unusual collaboration that will see the popular Pokémon IP arrive at the Vincent Van Gogh Museum for a special event


Visitors to this year’s IAAPA Expo Europe will be able to walk away with a number of unique items and VIP experiences thanks to a charity auction to be held at the event in Vienna


The famous Italian city of Venice is set to tackle over-tourism with the introduction of a €5 a day entry fee for visitors to the Unesco World Heritage Site


A US$14.5m project, including a new planetarium, has been approved for the town of Spartanburg in South Carolina, US


The Great Wall of China has suffered ‘irreversible damage’ after two people dug a hole through the wall with an excavator to create a shortcut


Path Entertainment Group and Hasbro recently worked together to produce a world-first immersive Monopoly experience. Path CEO David Hutchinson shares all with Planet Attractions


Attractions across Florida have made preparations and many have closed following the arrival of Hurricane Idalia and predicted storm surges


Visit Carlsberg in Copenhagen, Denmark, is to reopen as Home of Carlsberg this December after undergoing extensive improvement works


The Gorman Museum of Native American Art will reopen next month with a celebratory weekend marking the institution’s 50th anniversary


An extreme heat policy introduced to all SeaWorld operations in the US could see other operators follow suit following a tough weather-related summer for theme parks


The Museums Association has said ‘categorically’ that theft from collections is ‘incredibly rare, after more than 1,500 priceless artefacts were found to have been stolen from the British Museum


Peter van der Schans has now been at the helm of IAAPA’s EMEA operations for more than a year. He shares with Planet Attractions how that year has gone and the progress being made in the global attractions markets of Europe, the Middle East and Africa


An exhibition inspired by hit-series Derry Girls has drawn a record number of visitors to Londonderry’s Tower Museum


The Gunpowder Plot is a multilayered immersive experience set at the Tower of London. Planet Attractions spoke to the team behind the development to see exactly how it came to life...


The Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame has opened following a two-year planning and design process led by JRA, part of RWS Global


French theme park and animal attraction Le Pal is celebrating its 50th year in 2023. Its CEO, Arnaud Bennet speaks to Planet Attractions on half-a-century of one of the country’s most popular offerings


Work is set to start on Bali’s highly-anticipated Paramount theme park, with the major development representing the largest of its kind for the Indonesian tourist destination


A new immersive experience showcasing the work of French impressionist painter Claude Monet is coming to London, UK


London’s Horniman Museum has been awarded £5.7m by the National Lottery Heritage Fund for its Nature + Love project


Seven has announced the latest entertainment mega destination to come to Saudi Arabia following the breaking ground of its SAR1.3bn development in the city of Al-Madinah


A number of wildlife organisations have called on the UK’s Levelling Up secretary Michael Gove to revoke the controversial London Resort’s status as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project


The Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia has announced the launch of Asfar - a new company designed to support the growth of the kingdom’s tourism sector


Unesco says it’s deeply dismayed over an attack carried out by the Russian forces, which hit several cultural sites in the city centre of Odesa, while President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pledged retaliation for the act


The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum has announced the public phase of a US$89m capital campaign to fund a complete transformation of the museum, its first significant renovation in nearly 40 years


A touring exhibition celebrating 100 years of Disney is to open in London in October


Extreme flooding in northern India has seen water make it all the way to the walls of the Taj Mahal - the first time such an occurrence has happened in 45 years


The First Bank of the United States in Philadelphia has been granted US$22m in federal funding to turn the historic building into an interactive museum


The proposed Eden Project Dundee attraction has begun the formal planning process after submitting a proposal of application notice to Dundee City Council


Kuwait is eyeing major investment in its domestic market, with plans to launch a sovereign investment fund, to accelerate the growth of its own economy


New York’s Strong National Museum of Play has reopened following a US$75m transformation, described as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to create a unique destination centred around play


Meow Wolf’s The Real Unreal is a psychedelic playground for adults and kids alike and its about to open in Grapevine, Texas


In the midst of its global and domestic investment spree, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has declared a loss on investments of US$11bn for last year


Merlin Entertainments has partnered with RAW Charging to install electric vehicle charging points at five UK attractions this summer


Tokyo’s Hanayashiki theme park is set to introduce an array of new additions, with the 170-year-old theme park about to launch a number of new attractions and a new themed zone later this month


The Sphere, MSG’s new entertainment arena in Las Vegas, US, was lit up for the first time this month as part of a pre-launch ahead of its official debut in September


Engineering company Sanvik has used artificial intelligence to design a statue that draws on the styles of famous artists spanning three continents and 500 years, with the resulting work on display in Sweden’s Tekniska Museet


Atlantic City is celebrating the launch of its latest attraction - a US$100m world-class indoor waterpark on the City Boardwalk


A virtual Disney theme park in the Metaverse remains a long-term possibility following a partnership between Disney and Apple’s upcoming Vision Pro headset


Football could be coming home to Sheffield in the UK, following an application to develop an immersive football experience in a disused timber depot in the city


Registration is now open for this year’s IAAPA Expo Europe event, which is set to make its return to Vienna, Austria, in September


London Mayor Sadiq Khan has said that the UK and Greece should come to an agreement to share the controversial Parthenon Marbles currently on display at the British Museum


The finalists in this year’s UK Theme Park Awards have been announced, with Alton Towers, Chessington World of Adventures and Blackpool Pleasure Beach among the major contenders in the running for this year’s top prize


Paradise Wildlife Park has welcomed KSI and The Sidemen to the animal attraction for a viral game of hide and seek


Attractions.io is seeking to partner with new vendors on its guest experience platform, introducing new technologies to further enhance its overall offering


Warner Bros and Neon are working in collaboration to develop a new contemporary art experience based on the world of Harry Potter


The leaders of London’s National Portrait Gallery say the historic institution is now more accessible to all, with a complete reimagining of the attraction focused on increasing representation and inspiring people


The Smurfs are making their way to the US in the form of an immersive touring location-based experience set to make its debut in 2024


Lionel Messi is about to get his own touring attraction, with ‘The Messi Experience, A Dream Come True’ set to debut in the US in 2024


All of Us Are Dead will be the first Korean horror series to make its way to a Universal park, after being announced for this year’s Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Singapore


The PIF-owned Red Sea Global has been announced as the sponsor of the Al-Ahli Football Club, also owned by PIF, in Saudi Arabia’s Saudi Pro League


Oman’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning has revealed plans to open three significant leisure and entertainment destinations over the next five years


A world-class surfing attraction, a velodrome and a sprawling urban park are among the features included in a major new development for Abu Dhabi


Morph has arrived in London for a wheelchair accessible public art trail, with the event to run until August in an effort to raise money for the children’s charity Whizz Kidz


Concerns have been raised after local government passed a bill allowing intensive irrigated strawberry farming on a World Heritage-protected wetland in Spain


Europa-Park has reopened following a major fire at the park earlier this week


WhiteWater’s Grant Poje showcases five indoor waterpark projects that are helping to advance the sector and boost the sector’s mainstream popularity


After Disney announced that its CFO Christine McCarthy is taking a family medical leave of absence from the company, it has been suggested that Bob Iger could stay on as CEO beyond his planned departure from the company in 2024


Open for the summer season, the Kalahari Resort in Round Rock has significantly expanded its outdoor waterpark with the addition of a lazy river, a new kids area, a swim up bar and more


Saudi Arabia is set to invest a further US$800bn on top of the US$1tn investment it has already made in tourism, with even more new projects set to come up in the kingdom over the course of the next decade


IAAPA Expo Asia has made its long-awaited return with the event in Singapore marking its first appearance in-person since 2019


A new visitor experience inspired by beloved British soap opera Coronation Street has opened in Manchester, UK


MrBeast has released a new video which sees the world’s biggest YouTuber take over Royal Caribbean's gigantic Harmony of the Seas cruise ship


Catherine Zeta-Jones, Mark Wahlberg, Jaime Camil and Abraham Ancer are the figureheads for a star-studded promotional campaign for the upcoming Vidanta World theme park, which is set to open in its first phase later this year


A new immersive visitor attraction will open its doors at the Dubai Mall later this year


A new themed land has arrived at Kings Island, with Adventure Port taking visitors on a journey in search of an ancient lost city’s forbidden temple


A new VR cinema attraction that allows guests to observe a family group of endangered mountain gorillas in Rwanda has opened at Zoo Atlanta


BT has launched an all-new experience in the UK that uses camera and HD projection to bring 360° content to life in a range of realities powered by 5G


Majid Al Futtaim Entertainment is offering sub-zero temperatures to visitors in the UAE with the launch of its newest attraction - Snow Abu Dhabi


Miirage is a new modular holographic system bringing the virtual world to life without any additional need for mobile devices, screens or wearables. The creators behind the technology speak to Planet Attractions about the new product and exactly what it can do...


A new experience exploring space and featuring images from the James Webb Space Telescope has launched at Illuminarium Las Vegas


A museum in the Netherlands has come under fire for cultural appropriation, after using the likeness of American rapper Nas’ in a Tutankhamun-inspired bust


Cairns Aquarium is on the hunt for a new investor, with Colliers appointed to seek expressions of interest for the popular Queensland attraction


The Royal Commission for the ancient Saudi Arabian city of AlUla has approved plans for a new eco-luxury destination with its own museum


Build-A-Bear is on the hunt for new partners in locations offering family experiences, with the company announcing a new partnership to bring its Workshops to all four of Kalahari’s US waterpark resort destinations


Donald Finley, owner of the Bayville Adventure Park on Long Island, New York, has pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining US$3m in Covid relief funding to buy himself a house


Triotech has been selected to supply interactive dark rides for Saudi Arabia’s upcoming Transformers attractions


The former home of both George Frideric Handel and Jimi Hendrix has reopened to the public in London following a two-year, £3m renovation


SeaWorld and Miral are celebrating the launch of SeaWorld Abu Dhabi - the first SeaWorld-branded attraction to open in more than thirty years and the first to open outside the US


UN experts have expressed alarm after three people evicted from homes to make way for Saudi Arabia’s The Line, now face the death penalty


Merlin’s Scott O’Neil and Sony’s Jeffrey Godsick have hinted at the use of further Sony IPs in Merlin attractions following the launch of World of Jumanji at Chessington World of Adventures in the UK


Five cultural institutions are in the running for this year’s Art Fund Museum of the Year 2023


A new exhibition celebrating and exploring the life and times of iconic English footballer Paul Gascoigne has opened its doors in London


Universal Orlando has revealed details and renderings of its upcoming Minion Land, with the hotly-anticipated attraction set to open to the public this summer


Global attractions association IAAPA has launched its 2022-2026 Global Theme and Amusement Park Outlook report, with the research forecasting a 7% increase in attendance at North American theme parks


Digital agency Rubber Cheese has teamed up with attractions management platform Convious to launch the 2023 edition of its Visitor Attraction Website Report. The survey was launched during this year’s Museums + Heritage Show


A Fjordarium with a literal window to the ocean is at the heart of a proposed development in Oslo, with the plans forming ‘an important part of the regeneration and conservation of the fjords of Norway’


Attractions.io has teamed up with the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to develop a brand new experience platform for guests of the popular destination


The Nerja Caves has launched a new VR experience that allows visitors to access parts of the caves that have previously been closed to the public


A major Transformers attraction is planned for Seven’s upcoming entertainment destination in Riyadh, with plans for two further attractions in the kingdom as Saudi Arabia’s PIF continues to expand its entertainment offerings


A new brand home dedicated to Pilsner Urquell has opened its doors in Prague. BRC’s Christian Lachel tells Planet Attractions how the attraction celebrates the brand’s place in Czech history and culture


An official location tour dedicated to hit BBC series ‘Call the Midwife’ has opened at The Historic Dockyard Chatham in Kent, UK


Pembrokeshire County Council has approved plans to transform a grade II-listed prison in Haverfordwest, Wales, into a visitor attraction


Audubon Aquarium will reopen in June following a major renovation project that creates a combined experience with the newly-relocated Audubon Insectarium


Disney has sued Florida governor and presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis, claiming the state’s retaliation for its stance on LGBTQ+ issues violates its constitutional rights


Chester Zoo is set to host "Planet Shark: Predator or Prey," a touring exhibition dedicated to sharks. Taking visitors through 310 million years of shark evolution, the immersive experience debuts in May


Nassau Cruise Port in the Bahamas is scheduled to reopen next month following a US$300m renovation targeting increased visitor numbers and an enhanced visitor experience


A new blockbuster exhibition based on hit CBBC show Operation Ouch! will open at the Science and Industry Museum (SIM) in Manchester, UK, in July


You can hear Avenged Sevenfold’s upcoming Life Is But A Dream early thanks to a 360º Immersive Album Experience coming to AREA15 in Las Vegas next month


With the attractions and cruise industries seemingly closer than ever before, RWS CEO Ryan Stana speaks to Planet Attractions about what that means and the steps we can take to bring these two powerhouses under one metaphorical roof


Work has started on a new agriculture museum dedicated to cannabis in Atlantic City. The museum is one of several marijuana-themed projects greenlit by the city in the hopes of attracting a new wave of ‘weed tourists’


A first-of-its kind offering will make guests feel like they’re at the heart of the action during live UFC events, with Cosm’s ‘shared reality’ spectacles set to transform the way we watch live sporting events


A major museum dedicated to William Shakespeare will be built on the foundations of the theatre where the famed playwright hosted some of his first works


Sega Sammy Holdings has agreed a deal to acquire Rovio, with Sega aiming to accelerate its mobile gaming capabilities while also acquiring a powerful IP in the world of entertainment


A major new development in Tennessee has broken ground, with The 407: Gateway to Adventure’s ‘Smoky Gap’ entertainment district promising to feature world-class attractions when it opens in 2025


Continuum Attractions has taken up operations of the Loch Ness Centre, which is set to reopen next month following a £1.5m redevelopment


You can experience Carnegie Science Center with a roaring twenties twist on April 14, with the popular attraction set to host a special adults-only speakeasy night


Digital attractions platform Love To Visit has raised £2.1m as it aims to corner the UK tourism attractions market and expand its operations overseas


Amnesty International says that Cambodian officials are forcing residents of the Angkor Wat World Heritage site to ‘voluntarily’ leave in the name of preserving the popular heritage attraction, with the move affecting an estimated 10,000 families


The Caribbean’s most popular cruise destination is about to gain a major new port, with work on Calypso Cove to start towards the end of this year


Will AI take over the planet or could it just maybe develop your next new dark ride attraction? Tom Anstey asked an AI a few simple questions to see how it would do in developing such a ride concept


Arie Force One has been cleared for take off at Fun Spot America Atlanta, with the RMC steel coaster hybrid marking a major addition to the Georgia theme park


Disney has managed to strip power from the newly-appointed board governing its Florida parks by invoking the name of King Charles III in an ongoing dispute with governor Ron DeSantis


A cargo port controversially seized from a US company last week by the Mexican government has been earmarked for an XCaret style water and theme park, as well as a docking point for cruise ships


Development company Seven is to launch the world’s first Play-Doh-themed attractions in partnership with Hasbro


Ferrari World Abu Dhabi’s Mission Ferrari opened to the public to much fanfare in January. Holovis’s James Lodder shares a decade-long journey to realise this incredible immersive rollercoaster experience


Disney has revealed a ‘real’ lightsaber at this year’s SXSW, an arts and technology festival currently underway in Austin, Texas


Equity is different from equality, and on International Women’s Day Una de Boer reflects how to support this foundational step towards a more just world


Fun Spot America Atlanta’s hotly-anticipated RMC-manufactured ArieForce One is set to open later this month, with the major attraction representing the park’s largest-ever investment


Scandinavian artist Olafur Eliasson has collaborated with author Robert MacFarlance to create a permanent art installation on the West Cumbria coastline


Keith James, president of JRA; Robin Breese-Davies, executive vice president of ted; and Danielle Kramer, executive vice president of RWS, speak to Planet Attractions about what looks to be a bumper year ahead for the company


The UK’s National Lottery Heritage Fund has announced several changes to its funding priorities to address concerns for the ‘health and future of the nation’s heritage’


Adam Hattan explains how content creators can be effectively used to drive new and returning guests to your attraction


Florida’s Republican governor has declared an end to Disney’s ‘corporate kingdom’ with new legislation seeing the state gaining effective control of the company’s Florida operations


Ukrainian security company Ajax Systems has installed US$13,000 worth of security equipment to protect several Banksy artworks in Kyiv created by the artist during the Russian invasion


Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince has announced plans for New Murabba - a US$48bn commercial downtown development in Riyadh, anchored by a cube-shaped skyscraper large enough to accommodate 20 Empire State buildings


Merlin Entertainments is adding to its cluster of attractions in Blackpool, with a £2.3m Gruffalo-themed attraction set to open later this year


Original costumes, set designs, drawings and handwritten lyrics will allow visitors to V&A East to trace David Bowie’s creative process across six decades


Romain Grosjean’s torched F1 car from the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix is set to go on display as part of a wider touring exhibition looking at the world of F1


A riverside retreat featuring Manhattan’s first public beach is set to open in New York City this summer


DEAL is coming back to Dubai next month. Here’s everything you need to know about the region’s hottest attractions show


3D printing has been used to create a full-size replica of a World Heritage site in China, offering visitors an up close and personal experience while also securing crucial data for future world heritage protection


Fancy a job as a rollercoaster test rider? Well good news - Blackpool Pleasure Beach is on the hunt...


London is set to emulate New York’s Highline with its own version running from Camden to St Pancras. Here’s everything you need to know about the £14m project


Unesco has offered its support to the victims of the devastating earthquake that rocked Turkey and Syria this week as concern grows for a number of historically important World Heritage sites in the region


The popular Titanic Belfast attraction will reopen next month with four new galleries and a 7.6m-long replica of the iconic ship following a multi-million pound revamp


Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway is the featured addition to Disneyland as the park celebrates 100 years of Disney with a host of new attractions and experiences


The former Pleasure Island could find new life as a tourist destination after plans were submitted to turn the former theme park into a £65.9m holiday site


Operator Great Wolf has broken ground on a new US$300m resort in Connecticut, with a 91,000sq ft indoor waterpark set to be the development’s main attraction


SeaWorld has announced a shakeup of its leadership structure, making eight new appointments as the company seeks to accelerate growth


Norway’s TusenFryd will soon launch Europe’s first ever suspended triple launch coaster, with the NOK100m Storm - The Dragon Legend being described as the ‘most important single investment’ in the park’s 34-year history


South Carolina’s Greenville Zoo is looking at changing to a nonprofit operation following a city consultation last month


Workers at the British Museum along with a number of other institutions across the UK are set to go on strike in February


Patients at a number of children’s hospitals across the state of South Carolina can now explore Charleston’s popular aquarium remotely, using a robot to interact with the exhibits and take part in tours


Disney is celebrating 100 years with an adult-oriented immersive experience coming to London, Berlin and Paris in 2023


An interactive experience taking visitors inside hit NBC sitcom ‘The Office’ is set to open in Toronto later this year


Another mega project has been announced for Saudi Arabia, with the PIF’s Seven announcing plans for a SAR1bn entertainment destination in the city of Tabuk


Connect&Go - a global leader in guest and attractions management technology - has grown significantly over the last decade. Its co-founder Anthony Palermo spoke to Planet Attractions


Chessington World of Adventures has unveiled what will become the world’s first Jumanji-themed coaster when it opens later this year


The fifth annual MENALAC Awards ceremony will take place in Dubai, with the event bringing together senior leaders to celebrate attractions across the Middle East and North Africa


Attractions.io has teamed up with SSA Group to provide a fully digital experience for visitors to cultural attractions in 2023


A ‘radical, once-in-a-generation’ development will see Bradford’s National Science and Media Museum undergo a year-long transformation starting in June

Industry insights



Spatial Sound, Immersive Audio: What is it and is it here to stay?




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Disneyland Paris renames park ahead of €2bn expansion

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Storm surge: How Chimelong Spaceship’s award-winning and record-breaking Bermuda Storm was brought to life



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Efteling’s steam trains going green with switch to electric energy


As Efteling makes moves towards carbon neutrality, the theme park operator has announced that its popular coal-powered trains are set to make the switch to electric energy

Disney rule change punishes people with disabilities for actions of able-bodied ‘disability fakers’, says group


Changes set to be made to Disney’s Disability Access Service will punish those with disabilities rather than prevent use by able-bodied ‘disability fakers’, a group has said

Attractions.io launches Indoor Mapping feature


Attractions.io has expanded the capability of its technology with the launch of its new Indoor Mapping tool - a system designed to help map complex indoor spaces for visitors

Warner Bros Studio Tour Hollywood launches TCM Classic Films Tour


Turner Classic Movies and Warner Bros Studio Tour Hollywood have collaborated on a new tour experience taking visitors through the history of classic cinema on the Warner Bros lot

Chuck E. Cheese and American Society for Deaf Children partner on inclusivity initiative


Chuck E. Cheese and the American Society for Deaf Children have partnered up on an initiative that aims to foster greater inclusivity for children who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families

Storm surge: How Chimelong Spaceship’s award-winning and record-breaking Bermuda Storm was brought to life


The record-breaking Bermuda Storm is one of the most impressive attractions in the world and it took a host of creative minds and companies from every corner of the globe to bring it all together. Here’s the story behind its creation

MSC announces world-first Cliffhanger swing ride suspended 50m above the ocean


MSC Cruises has unveiled Cliffhanger - a new attraction coming to its upcoming World America vessel that will give riders a one of a kind of experience as they swing out 50m above the ocean

Halo Space unveils capsule ahead of public trips into the stratosphere


Space tourism has a new competitor, with company Halo Space unveiling its Aurora space capsule ahead of its first public flights in 2026

Zach Galifianakis headlines LA return for Glasgow’s viral for all the wrong reasons Willy Wonka experience


The event so bad the police were called is set to make its return, with Zach Galifianakis and the ‘sad Oompa Loompa’ Kirsty Paterson both set to appear in the reimagined version of the infamous Willy’s Chocolate Experience in Los Angeles later this month

Simworx expands into sports entertainment sector with C360 View partnership


Simworx is expanding its business with a move into the sports entertainment sector, announcing a partnership with C360 View that will see the development of a ‘groundbreaking’ stadium viewing experience

Bright and beautiful: How Europe’s biggest light festival delivered with Christie


Already the largest of its kind in Europe, here’s how the Signal light festival worked with Christie to bring the spectacle to life

Disney agrees settlement with DeSantis backed board over Florida governance dispute


Disney’s dispute with Florida governor Ron DeSantis seems to be over with the entertainment giant agreeing to end litigation involving the special tourism district that oversees governance of the Disney World resort

Merlin makes major acquisition of The Wheel at Icon Park


Merlin Entertainments continues to focus on its attractions ‘mega clusters’ with the operator announcing its reacquisition of Orlando’s iconic giant wheel

Saudi Arabia lands latest major IP with announcement of world-first Dragon Ball theme park


Saudi Arabia’s mega-investment into its tourism and attractions industry continues with the kingdom announcing plans to open a world-first Dragon Ball theme park in Qiddiya City

English Heritage sites trial body cameras in attempt to deter anti-social behaviour


English Heritage is testing body-worn cameras at four of the national organisation’s sites in an attempt to deter anti-social behaviour and crime, as well as to protect its staff during ‘confrontational situations’

Mattel to open second theme park in Kansas in 2026


Mattel has announced plans to build a second US theme park, with Kansas set to feature attractions inspired by Barbie, Hot Wheels, Thomas & Friends and more

Authentic Einstein experiment uncovered in French museum


France’s Ampere Museum has uncovered a hidden gem in its reserves, with the only complete and authentic version of the Einstein-de Haas experiment set to go on display at the attraction in April

Forest at the edge of the sky: Wētā Workshop celebrates Thea recognition for immersive mall experience


Aura: The Forest at the Edge of the Sky is among the outstanding projects to be recognised with a Thea Award, with the Weta Workshop celebrating its achievements in creating the multisensory retail experience

BoldMove’s Smash and Reload iterations and new IP company focus for 2024


BoldMove’s expanded Smash and Reload formats, as well as its new Voodoo Festival IP will be a key focus for the company through 2024

Saudi Arabia attracts US$13bn of private investment as tourism industry continues to grow at pace


Saudi Arabia’s tourism push is gaining momentum with more than US$13bn of private investment attracted by the kingdom’s ongoing spending spree

SEA Expo positioned as key industry event as Saudi attractions market continues to surge


With the entertainment industry expected to contribute around US$23bn to Saudi Arabia by 2030, it’s no wonder that SEA Expo continues to grow at pace with the rapidly expanding market. Here’s what to expect for its sixth edition this May

Dynamic pricing at the forefront for Convious in 2024


Convious says it’s planning to unleash the power of dynamic pricing in 2024 with the company set to introduce new features designed to align with evolving consumer behaviour

Smithsonian to introduce new human remains policy following task force investigation


The Smithsonian Institution will introduce a new policy on human remains that will see descendants or communities of origin able to decide what happens to their ancestors

Legoland Windsor’s Minifigure Speedway gets opening date


Legoland Windsor’s Minifigure Speedway has been given the green light to open later this month

Triotech working on new theme park openings across Asia, the Middle East and Europe in 2024


Triotech has a big year ahead, with the company’s year including new theme park openings across Asia, the Middle East and Europe

SpongeBob kickstarts year for Alterface as new projects and products in store for 2024


Alterface has a number of major projects and products set to launch in 2024, with its interactive technology utilised in the recently opened SpongeBob attraction at Circus Circus

‘Unprecedented’ year for Vekoma as ‘incredible number of projects’ set for launch in 2024


From Circuit Breaker at Cotaland to Flight of the Wicked Witch at Warner Bros Movie World, Vekoma’s 2024 has been hailed as ‘unprecedented’ with the rollercoaster manufacturer set for a number of major project launches across the world in the coming year

Openings galore as Simworx shares what’s in store for 2024


Specialists in media-based attractions, Simworx has a busy year on the cards in 2024 with a range of different projects set to be delivered worldwide

How can attractions capitalise on the rise of AI and virtual influencers?


There’s a trend on social media that is seeing more and more virtual and AI influencers gain significant popularity, should you be using them to promote your attractions? Tom Anstey explores...

Eiffel Tower should be classed as historical monument, says France’s culture minister following strikes


As staff at the Eiffel Tower continue to strike over the monument's management, France’s culture minister has suggested classifying the iconic building as a national monument, which would allow the state to help fund necessary works

WWE announces five-day immersive visitor experience to coincide with WrestleMania 40


WWE is offering the ‘ultimate’ five-day fan experience during the week of this year’s Wrestlemania, with WWE World offering a host of immersive experiences, exhibits and interactions this April

Ghibli Park’s real-life ‘Catbus’ vehicles to debut in March


Fans of My Neighbor Totoro will finally get the chance to ride the iconic Catbus for real starting next month when a fleet of special vehicles make their debut at Japan’s Ghibli Park

D-Day landing beaches could be named World Heritage Site as Unesco considers listing


Normandy’s historic D-Day landing beaches could finally be named a Unesco World Heritage Site with the cultural organisation now ready to consider a new application 80 years on from the event that marked the beginning of Europe’s liberation from the Nazis

Ripley’s responds to Florida book ban by offering free books to residents


Ripley’s is offering out its latest annual free of charge after some of its titles were pulled from school libraries as a direct result of Florida’s controversial law restricting the discussion of LGBTQ+ issues in public schools.

John Wick the latest major addition to Area15 as new immersive experience announced for Las Vegas entertainment district


John Wick is the latest major IP to be announced for Las Vegas’s immersive entertainment district Area15, with the new experience taking visitors inside the world of the franchise as they navigate their own high-stakes action adventure

Museum exhibition design trends


Gone are the days of stuffy and quiet museums. In today's world, people seek unique experiences, an escape from reality, and a place where they can immerse themselves and express their creativity. With this in mind, we have asked our designers about the trends that are currently shaping museums. Read on to discover their insights

Mundo Amazonia: Exploring Bellewaerde Park’s new themed area for 2024


Belgium’s Bellewaerde Park is investing €21m in a new themed land for 2024. Erik Huijing visited Mundo Amazonia ahead of its opening next month to get a behind the scenes look at the upcoming addition to the park

Saudi Arabia investing US$75m for region’s first luxury train experience


Saudi Arabia’s tourism push is hitting the rails with the country investing US$75m into an Orient Express-style luxury train that will travel to two of the Kingdom’s World Heritage Sites

Triple H offers sneak peek at Undertaker’s Graveyard Escape as WWE Experience prepares to open


Legendary professional wrestler Triple H has shared a first look at The Undertaker’s Graveyard Escape - an attraction coming to the all new WWE Experience, set to open this week in Riyadh

Supplier Showcase 2024: The biggest attractions projects landing worldwide this year


From waterpark suppliers and media specialists to creative designers, dark ride producers and operations specialists, Planet Attractions has gone to every corner of the globe to find out what’s hot in 2024

Funding secured for US$73.8m North Dakota waterpark resort development


Work will soon start on a multi-million dollar development in North Dakota, with the Wave Waterpark Resort in Fargo, North Dakota, set to open in February 2026

Blenheim Palace piloting ‘groundbreaking’ organic waste project in step towards net zero


Blenheim Palace has announced a ‘groundbreaking’ organic waste project that will act as a ‘major step’ towards such sites meeting net zero sustainability goals

Twenty-six of the biggest rollercoaster launches coming in 2024


With records for the tallest, fastest and longest rollercoaster all set to be broken by a single ride, it should give you an idea of the kind of thrills in-store for thrillseekers this year as we list 26 of the biggest coaster launches coming in 2024

Merlin’s Cadbury World announces plans for multi-million pound trackless dark ride


A new trackless dark ride is coming to Cadbury World following Merlin’s acquisition of the popular British attraction, with Cadbury Chocolate Quest taking visitors on a journey to make a real bar of chocolate

Prince Harry urged by charity to step down from African Parks board following serious abuse allegations against rangers


Charity organisation Survival International has called on Prince Harry to ‘distance himself’ from African Parks and step down from its board, after allegations emerged accusing some of its guards of abuse against Indigenous people

Immersive exhibit for K-Pop sensations BTS coming to the Philippines


BTS are on their way to the Philippines with an immersive exhibition dedicated to the K-Pop sensations set to make its debut in the country in May

‘Most ambitious theme park yet’: Harry Potter, Mario and more set to feature as Universal shares official first look at upcoming Epic Universe resort


The game changing Epic Universe has been dubbed Universal’s ‘most ambitious theme park yet’, with the operator offering a first official look at its fourth Orlando gate

The Giant coming to New Jersey’s American Dream


The Giant has its first location, with the mammoth moving attraction and accompanying exhibition set to open at the American Dream Mall in New Jersey, US, in 2025

Visitor cap for Mount Fuji as Japan cracks down on tourist pollution


Japanese authorities are fighting over tourism on Mount Fuji by announcing plans to introduce a toll and visitor cap on the World Heritage site’s most popular hiking trail

Holocaust-era train car goes on display at American Heritage Museum


The American Heritage Museum has unveiled the restoration of a WWII-era German Deutsche Reichsbahn Rail Car in the first phase of a project aiming to develop a comprehensive permanent exhibit remembering the Holocaust

Tom Hanks shares love of space with London’s immersive Moonwalkers experience


Tom Hanks is bringing visitors to the moon and back with a new immersive experience co-written by the actor currently on show at London’s Lightroom

Nominations open as MENALAC Awards celebrate best in class for Middle East and North Africa region


Nominations are open ahead of the sixth edition of the annual MENALAC Awards, with the event set to celebrate the best in class for leisure and attractions in the MENA region

Companies seek new hires as new year rings in fresh opportunities for attractions industry


Entering 2024, companies across the attractions and themed entertainment industries are on the hunt for new talent. Check out some of the positions available right now worldwide

Sea Life Melbourne reopens oceanarium following AU$9m renovation


Melbourne’s Sea Life aquarium has undergone a major transformation, with the Merlin attraction’s Oceanarium undergoing an AU$9m redevelopment to turn it into the bioluminescent Night on the Reef exhibit

Australia’s Twelve Apostles to undergo AU$108m renovation to protect site and boost visitor experience


An Australian natural heritage attraction will undergo a significant renovation project to protect the site and streamline the visitor experience

China’s Great Wall Museum set to reopen in 2025 following major renovation


A cultural attraction dedicated to China’s Great Wall will become a national museum when it reopens in 2025 following an extensive renovation

Happy Holidays from Planet Attractions


Just a quick message from everyone at Planet Attractions to say thank you and to wish you a happy holiday

FEC market to be worth US$30.7bn by 2032, says study


New research has said that the children and family entertainment centre sector will be worth US$30.7bn by 2032, with the market growing by more than 10% each year

Surf park planned for Orlando as developer plans oceanwide expansion across the US


Orlando could be about to welcome a major new attraction, with Ocean Sports Development leading a US$45m (€41.1m, £35.6m) project anchored around a 52,000sq m (566,000sq ft) pool capable of producing artificial waves - the first of many planned for locations across the US.

Manchester City launches interactive attraction in Abu Dhabi’s Yas Mall


A new visitor attraction dedicated to Manchester City has opened its doors in Abu Dhabi, with the new City Challenge offering visitors a chance to show off their footballing skills through a range of immersive experiences

Universal Studios Bedford in the works as operator explores feasibility of UK theme park


The English town of Bedford could be a surprising contender for Universal’s next theme park and resort development, with the operator confirming plans are ‘at the early stages’ for what would be a landmark attraction destination for the UK

‘Ambitious plans’ in store for China as Alterface announces country’s first Action League Interactive Thrill Ride for Suzhou


Alterface is eyeing malls and FECs in China for its Action League Interactive Thrill Ride, after the company announced its first such attraction in the country is set to open at Suzhou Paradise Forest World in May next year

Argentina’s new President Javier Milei abolishes Ministry of Culture after one day


Argentina no longer has a Ministry of Culture after its new President Javier Milei abolished the government office one day into his four year tenure

Former Disney Imagineer and industry veteran Scott Ault joins TDAC


European tourism and attractions consultants TDAC have added former Disney Imagineer Scott Ault to its growing team of industry experts

Pokémon theme park announced for Tokyo’s Yomiuriland


A major new addition is coming to Japan’s Yomiuriland, with the operator announcing plans to develop a nature-based Pokémon theme park at its home in Tokyo

Setting the stage: 30th edition of DEAL opens shop window to MENA market


As the MENA attractions market continues to surge, DEAL represents one of the most important business opportunities of 2024. Abdul Rahman Falaknaz, president of show organisers International Expo-Consults speaks about this year’s upcoming event

‘Bridging gap between physical and digital’: House of Hype attraction opens doors in Saudi Arabia


A new attraction from developer HyperSpace has opened its doors in Riyadh, with the ‘digital theme park’ acting as a hybrid of content creation arena and videogame for its visitors

Kiss promises to ‘change music performance history’ as band launches digital alter-egos and avatar stage show


Legendary rock band Kiss have promised to ‘change music performance history’, after unveiling their own digital avatars and announcing a special stage show working with the likes of Thierry Coup, Industrial Light & Magic, and Pophouse Entertainment Group

Hobbiton Movie Set opens iconic ‘Hobbit holes’ to the public for first time


You can now pass beyond the doors of the Hobbiton Movie set in New Zealand, with director Sir Peter Jackson behind the development of two ‘83% human size’ Hobbit holes for visitors to explore

Sansei Technologies promises to elevate guest experience after announcing major acquisition of Forrec


Sansei Technologies has announced the acquisition of leading experience design firm Forrec, with the Japanese ride and equipment manufacturer promising to elevate the guest experience through the new partnership

Universal Kids Resort: Universal names family theme park and resort destination coming to Frisco in 2026


Universal has unveiled the name of its upcoming children’s theme park and resort destination, with Universal Kids Resort set to open in Frisco in 2026

Wisdome Stockholm represents latest in sustainable development as nationally important STEM project set to open doors in Sweden


The soon-to-open Wisdome Stockholm at Tekniska Museet is the latest development as part of a national project to boost STEM activities and encourage sustainable construction methods across Sweden

World-class theme park and resort development coming to Mount Rushmore area


Storyland Studios is behind the development of Libertyland USA - a world class theme park and resort development coming to South Dakota in 2026

Saudi Arabia wins bid to host World Expo 2030 in Riyadh


Saudi Arabia has won a bid to host World Expo 2030 in Riyadh, with US$7.8bn set to be invested into building a site that focuses on ‘shaping a prosperous and sustainable future’

Scruffy Dog and Sela unveil immersive Wonder Garden experience park


Scruffy Dog and Sela have teamed up to produce Wonder Garden - an immersive experience offering ‘limitless creativity’ during Riyadh Season

Lessons ‘Squid Game - The Challenge’ can teach LBE about bringing an IP to life and engaging its fanbase


Kids Industries has created a range of immersive experiences such as Legoland’s Lego Mythica: World of Mythical Creatures. Its CEO, Gary Pope, shares his thoughts on the arrival of Netflix’s recently-launched ‘Squid Game: The Challenge’ and how this reflects on the growing LBE market

Formula 1 and Tottenham Hotspur partner on world-first karting experience


Formula 1 and Tottenham Hotspur are joining forces to deliver a first-of-its-kind karting experience that will allow people of all abilities to feel as though they are part of an F1 Grand Prix

Next generation: How Triotech innovated a first of its kind attraction with Lagoon Park’s Primordial


September saw the debut of a brand-new addition to Salt Lake City’s Lagoon Park - a hybrid rollercoaster and dark ride experience known as Primordial. Planet Attractions speaks to Ernest Yale and Nol Van Genuchten about the experience and how its team brought the first-of-its-kind attraction to life

WATCH: Intamin’s Lukas Spieldiener on company’s immersive projects


Intamin’s Lukas Spieldiener speaks to Planet Attractions on the launch of a number of immersive projects this year, with further such attractions also in the pipeline for 2024 and beyond

Attractions Technology Lab set for return during week of IAAPA Expo with dark ride event


Bringing together some of the industry’s leading suppliers under one banner, the Attractions Technology Lab returns to Orlando next month to showcase a complete technical mock-up of a dark ride experience, with a behind the scenes look at how such an attraction comes to life

Messi Experience world tour set for Miami debut in April


The Messi Experience - an immersive visitor attraction dedicated to global footballing megastar Lionel Messi - will open its doors in Miami in April next year

Kennedy Space Center debuts 3D entrance plaza display


The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex has debuted a brand new 3D digital display at its entrance, with a six minute show offering guests a look at the past, present and future of the US space programme

UK’s largest cultural investment in a generation opens doors in Manchester


A major cultural attraction has opened its doors in Manchester, with the £210m Aviva Studios representing the largest investment in a national cultural project since the opening of Tate Modern in 2000

Attractions.io launches industry-first in-app map with dynamic lighting at Alton Towers


Attractions.io has partnered with Alton Towers to introduce an industry-first in-app dynamic lighting map to be utilised at the operator’s popular Scarefest and Ultimate Fireworks Spectacular events

Pigvasion: Attraktion! and Rovio launch free roaming immersive Angry Birds experience


A new free-roaming immersive Angry Birds experience has made its debut, with the Pigvasion sending players on a mission to recover stolen eggs from some villainous pigs

Experience app Morty raises US$2.2m as platform expands into haunted attractions market


Morty - an experience app which describes itself as ‘the ultimate social copilot for you and your friends’ - has raised more than US$2.2m as the company expands operations into the haunted attractions market

Thought leaders: Benoit Cornet on how BoldMove is developing the total dark ride package


Benoit Cornet shares a fascinating insight into the world of dark rides and the emergence of his new company - BoldMove Nation

Lane7 plans overseas move as company opens doors to largest bowling operation in the UK yet


Bowling operator Lane7 has announced the launch of its largest site to date, with further plans to open its first location in the British capital and its first site overseas as the company continues to grow

STEM educators celebrated as ASTC names winners of Roy L. Shafer Leading Edge Awards


The Association of Science and Technology Centers has announced the winners of this year’s Roy L. Shafer Leading Edge Awards, with each recognised for their dedication to increasing the understanding of and engagement with science and technology among all people

Immersive indoor theme park experience set to open in Tokyo in 2024


A redeveloped shopping venue will soon become home to Immersive Fort Tokyo - an all new immersive theme park experience which its developers say will be the first of its kind

Nintendo and Seattle Aquarium partner on Animal Crossing exhibits


Seattle Aquarium is promising comic mischief following the launch of an Animal Crossing exhibit at the popular attraction with the Nintendo partnership running through to the end of the year

Records broken as Brand Licensing Europe focuses on LBE


Record numbers of retailers and visitors from France, Germany, Italy and Spain were in attendance at this year’s Brand Licensing Europe (BLE), with this year’s event placing special emphasis on location based entertainment (LBE).

Suppliers and attractions celebrated as Park World Excellence Award winners revealed


Intamin, Simworx and Vekoma are among the winners in this year’s Park World Excellence Awards, with 2023’s recipients named at a glamorous show in Vienna, Austria

Isle of Wight’s Robin Hill up for sale following ‘financial turbulence’


One of the Isle of Wight’s most popular attractions is up for sale, with Robin Hill now on the market following a ‘prolonged period of financial turbulence’

Record-breaking results as IAAPA Expo Europe concludes Vienna event


IAAPA Expo Europe has come to its conclusion, with lots of news coming out of the record-breaking event in Vienna

IAAPA Expo Europe 2023: Triotech celebrates launch of ‘next generation’ Primordial interactive dark coaster for US’s Lagoon Park


Triotech has announced the launch of its latest project - a ‘next generation interactive dark coaster at Salt Lake City’s Lagoon Park

IAAPA Expo Europe 2023: RWS Global to showcase major cruise line collaborations, resort partnerships and Hasbro City opening


RWS Global will in attendance at this year’s IAAPA Expo Europe to discuss major projects including the opening of the Hasbro City FEC, as well as several cruise line and resort partnerships

Solving the puzzle: Connect&GO’s Anthony Palermo on how technology is rapidly changing attractions management


There’s a transformative shift happening when it comes to use of technology in attractions management. Anthony Palermo, co-founder of Connect&GO, spoke to Tom Anstey...

Everything you need to know about IAAPA Expo Europe 2023


IAAPA is gearing up for its largest EMEA event ever, with the 2023 edition of IAAPA Expo Europe taking place in Vienna between September 25 - 28. Here’s everything you need to know about the event

Pokémon and Van Gogh collaboration to open at the end of September


The Pokémon Company has announced an unusual collaboration that will see the popular Pokémon IP arrive at the Vincent Van Gogh Museum for a special event

Big prizes up for grabs in Vienna as charity auction announced for IAAPA Expo Europe


Visitors to this year’s IAAPA Expo Europe will be able to walk away with a number of unique items and VIP experiences thanks to a charity auction to be held at the event in Vienna

Venice set to introduce €5 tourist day tax


The famous Italian city of Venice is set to tackle over-tourism with the introduction of a €5 a day entry fee for visitors to the Unesco World Heritage Site

Plans approved for multi-million-dollar planetarium in South Carolina


A US$14.5m project, including a new planetarium, has been approved for the town of Spartanburg in South Carolina, US

Construction workers attempting to create shortcut dig hole through Great Wall of China


The Great Wall of China has suffered ‘irreversible damage’ after two people dug a hole through the wall with an excavator to create a shortcut

Lifesized: How Path Entertainment and Hasbro brought Monopoly to life as a visitor experience


Path Entertainment Group and Hasbro recently worked together to produce a world-first immersive Monopoly experience. Path CEO David Hutchinson shares all with Planet Attractions

Attractions prepare as Hurricane Idalia arrives in Florida


Attractions across Florida have made preparations and many have closed following the arrival of Hurricane Idalia and predicted storm surges

Home of Carlsberg to reopen with extended exhibition in December


Visit Carlsberg in Copenhagen, Denmark, is to reopen as Home of Carlsberg this December after undergoing extensive improvement works

Gorman Museum of Native American Art celebrates 50 years with opening of expanded new home


The Gorman Museum of Native American Art will reopen next month with a celebratory weekend marking the institution’s 50th anniversary

SeaWorld ‘laying down a blueprint’ with industry-leading extreme heat policy


An extreme heat policy introduced to all SeaWorld operations in the US could see other operators follow suit following a tough weather-related summer for theme parks

Museum theft ‘rare’ says Museums Association following British Museum revelations


The Museums Association has said ‘categorically’ that theft from collections is ‘incredibly rare, after more than 1,500 priceless artefacts were found to have been stolen from the British Museum

Evolving the industry of fun: Peter van der Schans on the attractions markets in Africa, the Middle East and Europe


Peter van der Schans has now been at the helm of IAAPA’s EMEA operations for more than a year. He shares with Planet Attractions how that year has gone and the progress being made in the global attractions markets of Europe, the Middle East and Africa

Derry Girls Experience draws record visitor numbers for Northern Ireland’s Tower Museum


An exhibition inspired by hit-series Derry Girls has drawn a record number of visitors to Londonderry’s Tower Museum

Unfoiling the plot: Meet the team behind the Tower of London’s Gunpowder Plot experience


The Gunpowder Plot is a multilayered immersive experience set at the Tower of London. Planet Attractions spoke to the team behind the development to see exactly how it came to life...

JRA-designed Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame opens to the public


The Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame has opened following a two-year planning and design process led by JRA, part of RWS Global

Generational development: Arnaud Bennet on 50 years of Le Pal


French theme park and animal attraction Le Pal is celebrating its 50th year in 2023. Its CEO, Arnaud Bennet speaks to Planet Attractions on half-a-century of one of the country’s most popular offerings

Work set to start on Paramount’s Bali theme park development


Work is set to start on Bali’s highly-anticipated Paramount theme park, with the major development representing the largest of its kind for the Indonesian tourist destination

Immersive Monet experience making its way to London later this year


A new immersive experience showcasing the work of French impressionist painter Claude Monet is coming to London, UK

Horniman Museum’s Nature + Love project awarded £5.7m in Lottery funding


London’s Horniman Museum has been awarded £5.7m by the National Lottery Heritage Fund for its Nature + Love project

Saudi Arabia’s Seven breaks ground on latest project with SAR1.3bn entertainment destination coming to Al-Madinah


Seven has announced the latest entertainment mega destination to come to Saudi Arabia following the breaking ground of its SAR1.3bn development in the city of Al-Madinah

Conservation groups call on UK government to revoke London Resort’s planning status


A number of wildlife organisations have called on the UK’s Levelling Up secretary Michael Gove to revoke the controversial London Resort’s status as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project

Saudi Arabia’s PIF announces launch of Saudi Tourism Investment Company


The Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia has announced the launch of Asfar - a new company designed to support the growth of the kingdom’s tourism sector

Unesco and Zelenskyy condemn Russian attacks on historic World Heritage Site


Unesco says it’s deeply dismayed over an attack carried out by the Russian forces, which hit several cultural sites in the city centre of Odesa, while President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pledged retaliation for the act

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum set to undergo major redevelopment following launch of US$89m capital campaign


The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum has announced the public phase of a US$89m capital campaign to fund a complete transformation of the museum, its first significant renovation in nearly 40 years

Tickets now on sale for Disney100 exhibition heading to London this October


A touring exhibition celebrating 100 years of Disney is to open in London in October

Floodwaters reach Taj Mahal for first time in almost half-a-century


Extreme flooding in northern India has seen water make it all the way to the walls of the Taj Mahal - the first time such an occurrence has happened in 45 years

First Bank of the United States set to undergo US$22.2m museum transformation


The First Bank of the United States in Philadelphia has been granted US$22m in federal funding to turn the historic building into an interactive museum

Eden Project Dundee formally begins planning process


The proposed Eden Project Dundee attraction has begun the formal planning process after submitting a proposal of application notice to Dundee City Council

Kuwait set to launch sovereign investment fund to boost domestic market


Kuwait is eyeing major investment in its domestic market, with plans to launch a sovereign investment fund, to accelerate the growth of its own economy

‘Once in a lifetime opportunity’: New York’s Strong National Museum of Play reopens following US$75m expansion


New York’s Strong National Museum of Play has reopened following a US$75m transformation, described as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to create a unique destination centred around play

Meow Wolf’s The Real Unreal set to debut in Texas


Meow Wolf’s The Real Unreal is a psychedelic playground for adults and kids alike and its about to open in Grapevine, Texas

Saudi Arabia’s PIF reports US$11bn loss in 2022


In the midst of its global and domestic investment spree, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has declared a loss on investments of US$11bn for last year

Merlin to install electric vehicle charging points at five major UK attractions


Merlin Entertainments has partnered with RAW Charging to install electric vehicle charging points at five UK attractions this summer

Tokyo’s oldest theme park set to launch new attractions and themed zone


Tokyo’s Hanayashiki theme park is set to introduce an array of new additions, with the 170-year-old theme park about to launch a number of new attractions and a new themed zone later this month

Sphere lights up Vegas Strip for the first time ahead of September launch


The Sphere, MSG’s new entertainment arena in Las Vegas, US, was lit up for the first time this month as part of a pre-launch ahead of its official debut in September

WATCH: AI draws on 500 years of history to design statue in the styles of iconic sculptors


Engineering company Sanvik has used artificial intelligence to design a statue that draws on the styles of famous artists spanning three continents and 500 years, with the resulting work on display in Sweden’s Tekniska Museet

World’s largest beachfront indoor waterpark opens in Atlantic City


Atlantic City is celebrating the launch of its latest attraction - a US$100m world-class indoor waterpark on the City Boardwalk

Virtual Disney Metaverse theme park a ‘long-term possibility’


A virtual Disney theme park in the Metaverse remains a long-term possibility following a partnership between Disney and Apple’s upcoming Vision Pro headset

Immersive football experience eyed for Sheffield, UK, after plans submitted


Football could be coming home to Sheffield in the UK, following an application to develop an immersive football experience in a disused timber depot in the city

Registration opens as IAAPA Expo Europe prepares for return to Austria


Registration is now open for this year’s IAAPA Expo Europe event, which is set to make its return to Vienna, Austria, in September

Mayor of London says Greece and UK should ‘share’ Parthenon Marbles


London Mayor Sadiq Khan has said that the UK and Greece should come to an agreement to share the controversial Parthenon Marbles currently on display at the British Museum

Nominees announced for UK Theme Park Awards 2023


The finalists in this year’s UK Theme Park Awards have been announced, with Alton Towers, Chessington World of Adventures and Blackpool Pleasure Beach among the major contenders in the running for this year’s top prize

WATCH: KSI and The Sidemen play hide and seek inside Paradise Wildlife Park


Paradise Wildlife Park has welcomed KSI and The Sidemen to the animal attraction for a viral game of hide and seek

Attractions.io enhances partnership strategy to expand integrated app ecosystem


Attractions.io is seeking to partner with new vendors on its guest experience platform, introducing new technologies to further enhance its overall offering

Harry Potter interactive art experience set to debut in European city in 2023


Warner Bros and Neon are working in collaboration to develop a new contemporary art experience based on the world of Harry Potter

Reopened and reimagined National Portrait Gallery ‘of people, for people’ following £35.5m transformation


The leaders of London’s National Portrait Gallery say the historic institution is now more accessible to all, with a complete reimagining of the attraction focused on increasing representation and inspiring people

Immersive Smurfs experience set to tour US in 2024


The Smurfs are making their way to the US in the form of an immersive touring location-based experience set to make its debut in 2024

The Messi Experience: Touring tribute to Lionel Messi set to debut in US in 2024


Lionel Messi is about to get his own touring attraction, with ‘The Messi Experience, A Dream Come True’ set to debut in the US in 2024

‘All of Us Are Dead’ coming to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Singapore


All of Us Are Dead will be the first Korean horror series to make its way to a Universal park, after being announced for this year’s Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Singapore

PIF-owned Red Sea Global announces sponsorship deal with Saudi Pro League’s PIF-owned Al-Ahli FC


The PIF-owned Red Sea Global has been announced as the sponsor of the Al-Ahli Football Club, also owned by PIF, in Saudi Arabia’s Saudi Pro League

Three major leisure and entertainment destinations announced for Oman


Oman’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning has revealed plans to open three significant leisure and entertainment destinations over the next five years

Major surf park included in Abu Dhabi’s Hudayriyat Island masterplan


A world-class surfing attraction, a velodrome and a sprawling urban park are among the features included in a major new development for Abu Dhabi

First-of-its-kind cultural event brings Morph to London for wheelchair-friendly public art trail


Morph has arrived in London for a wheelchair accessible public art trail, with the event to run until August in an effort to raise money for the children’s charity Whizz Kidz

Strawberries threaten Spanish World Heritage site


Concerns have been raised after local government passed a bill allowing intensive irrigated strawberry farming on a World Heritage-protected wetland in Spain

Europa-Park reopens following blaze


Europa-Park has reopened following a major fire at the park earlier this week

Five indoor waterparks that are forecasting future trends


WhiteWater’s Grant Poje showcases five indoor waterpark projects that are helping to advance the sector and boost the sector’s mainstream popularity

Iger could stay on at Disney following abrupt exit of Christine McCarthy


After Disney announced that its CFO Christine McCarthy is taking a family medical leave of absence from the company, it has been suggested that Bob Iger could stay on as CEO beyond his planned departure from the company in 2024

Kalahari’s Round Rock resort completes outdoor waterpark expansion in time for summer season


Open for the summer season, the Kalahari Resort in Round Rock has significantly expanded its outdoor waterpark with the addition of a lazy river, a new kids area, a swim up bar and more

Saudi Arabia plans further US$800bn investment in tourism projects


Saudi Arabia is set to invest a further US$800bn on top of the US$1tn investment it has already made in tourism, with even more new projects set to come up in the kingdom over the course of the next decade

IAAPA Expo Asia makes highly anticipated return for first time since 2019


IAAPA Expo Asia has made its long-awaited return with the event in Singapore marking its first appearance in-person since 2019

Coronation Street Experience opens to the public in Manchester


A new visitor experience inspired by beloved British soap opera Coronation Street has opened in Manchester, UK

WATCH: MrBeast takes over billion dollar Royal Carribean cruise ship


MrBeast has released a new video which sees the world’s biggest YouTuber take over Royal Caribbean's gigantic Harmony of the Seas cruise ship

WATCH: Work progresses on Mexico’s Vidanta World theme park as Hollywood stars showcase upcoming resort destination


Catherine Zeta-Jones, Mark Wahlberg, Jaime Camil and Abraham Ancer are the figureheads for a star-studded promotional campaign for the upcoming Vidanta World theme park, which is set to open in its first phase later this year

House of Hype: New immersive attraction to open at Dubai Mall


A new immersive visitor attraction will open its doors at the Dubai Mall later this year

Kings Island’s Adventure Port ready to welcome guests for grand opening


A new themed land has arrived at Kings Island, with Adventure Port taking visitors on a journey in search of an ancient lost city’s forbidden temple

Zoo Atlanta’s new Immotion-designed VR attraction transports guests to jungles of Rwanda


A new VR cinema attraction that allows guests to observe a family group of endangered mountain gorillas in Rwanda has opened at Zoo Atlanta

BT launches UK-first 5G-powered Immersive Spaces interactive simulation experience


BT has launched an all-new experience in the UK that uses camera and HD projection to bring 360° content to life in a range of realities powered by 5G

Abu Dhabi’s first indoor snow park opens to the public


Majid Al Futtaim Entertainment is offering sub-zero temperatures to visitors in the UAE with the launch of its newest attraction - Snow Abu Dhabi

Bridging realities: How Miirage’s no-glasses holographic experience could change the game for immersive experiences


Miirage is a new modular holographic system bringing the virtual world to life without any additional need for mobile devices, screens or wearables. The creators behind the technology speak to Planet Attractions about the new product and exactly what it can do...

Illuminarium Las Vegas launches space-themed experience


A new experience exploring space and featuring images from the James Webb Space Telescope has launched at Illuminarium Las Vegas

Dutch museum faces backlash over Nas-Inspired Tutankhamun bust


A museum in the Netherlands has come under fire for cultural appropriation, after using the likeness of American rapper Nas’ in a Tutankhamun-inspired bust

Cairns Aquarium seeks investors as Colliers launches global search


Cairns Aquarium is on the hunt for a new investor, with Colliers appointed to seek expressions of interest for the popular Queensland attraction

Museum at the heart of plan for luxury eco-resort in Saudi Arabia’s ancient city of AlUla


The Royal Commission for the ancient Saudi Arabian city of AlUla has approved plans for a new eco-luxury destination with its own museum

Build-A-Bear seeks family-focussed destinations as company partners with Kalahari to open stores across waterpark portfolio


Build-A-Bear is on the hunt for new partners in locations offering family experiences, with the company announcing a new partnership to bring its Workshops to all four of Kalahari’s US waterpark resort destinations

Theme park owner pleads guilty to fraudulently claiming US$3m in Coronavirus aid


Donald Finley, owner of the Bayville Adventure Park on Long Island, New York, has pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining US$3m in Covid relief funding to buy himself a house

Triotech selected to develop multiple attractions for Transformers experiences in Saudi Arabia


Triotech has been selected to supply interactive dark rides for Saudi Arabia’s upcoming Transformers attractions

Former home of George Frideric Handel and Jimi Hendrix reopens in London after multi-million pound revamp


The former home of both George Frideric Handel and Jimi Hendrix has reopened to the public in London following a two-year, £3m renovation

First SeaWorld park to open outside US launches in Abu Dhabi


SeaWorld and Miral are celebrating the launch of SeaWorld Abu Dhabi - the first SeaWorld-branded attraction to open in more than thirty years and the first to open outside the US

Death penalties linked to Saudi Arabia’s The Line project condemned by UN


UN experts have expressed alarm after three people evicted from homes to make way for Saudi Arabia’s The Line, now face the death penalty

Playstation and Ghostbusters among IPs on the table for potential Merlin-Sony attractions, say bosses


Merlin’s Scott O’Neil and Sony’s Jeffrey Godsick have hinted at the use of further Sony IPs in Merlin attractions following the launch of World of Jumanji at Chessington World of Adventures in the UK

Art Fund reveals Museum of the Year 2023 shortlist


Five cultural institutions are in the running for this year’s Art Fund Museum of the Year 2023

The World of Gazza!!: New exhibition explores life and times of iconic English footballer Paul Gascoigne


A new exhibition celebrating and exploring the life and times of iconic English footballer Paul Gascoigne has opened its doors in London

Universal Orlando offers first look at highly-anticipated Minion Land attraction


Universal Orlando has revealed details and renderings of its upcoming Minion Land, with the hotly-anticipated attraction set to open to the public this summer

North American theme park market set for significant growth in attendance and guest spending, says IAAPA report


Global attractions association IAAPA has launched its 2022-2026 Global Theme and Amusement Park Outlook report, with the research forecasting a 7% increase in attendance at North American theme parks

Convious partners with Rubber Cheese to launch 2023 Visitor Attraction Website Report Survey


Digital agency Rubber Cheese has teamed up with attractions management platform Convious to launch the 2023 edition of its Visitor Attraction Website Report. The survey was launched during this year’s Museums + Heritage Show

‘Fjordarium’ the centrepiece of Oslo’s proposed Fornebu Brygge ocean campus project


A Fjordarium with a literal window to the ocean is at the heart of a proposed development in Oslo, with the plans forming ‘an important part of the regeneration and conservation of the fjords of Norway’

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex partners with Attractions.io to reimagine guest experience platform


Attractions.io has teamed up with the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to develop a brand new experience platform for guests of the popular destination

Spain’s largest VR experience opens at the Nerja Caves


The Nerja Caves has launched a new VR experience that allows visitors to access parts of the caves that have previously been closed to the public

Transformers announced as latest brand to come to Saudi Arabia under Seven banner


A major Transformers attraction is planned for Seven’s upcoming entertainment destination in Riyadh, with plans for two further attractions in the kingdom as Saudi Arabia’s PIF continues to expand its entertainment offerings

Pilsner Urquell: BRC’s Christian Lachel on Prague’s new ‘Original Beer Experience’


A new brand home dedicated to Pilsner Urquell has opened its doors in Prague. BRC’s Christian Lachel tells Planet Attractions how the attraction celebrates the brand’s place in Czech history and culture

‘Call the Midwife’ location tour launches at The Historic Dockyard Chatham


An official location tour dedicated to hit BBC series ‘Call the Midwife’ has opened at The Historic Dockyard Chatham in Kent, UK

Plans approved to transform 200-year-old prison in Wales into a visitor attraction


Pembrokeshire County Council has approved plans to transform a grade II-listed prison in Haverfordwest, Wales, into a visitor attraction

Reimagined Audubon Aquarium and Audubon Insectarium to reopen in June


Audubon Aquarium will reopen in June following a major renovation project that creates a combined experience with the newly-relocated Audubon Insectarium

Disney sues Florida governor Ron DeSantis over ‘targeted campaign of government retaliation’


Disney has sued Florida governor and presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis, claiming the state’s retaliation for its stance on LGBTQ+ issues violates its constitutional rights

Planet Shark touring exhibition set to make UK debut at Chester Zoo


Chester Zoo is set to host "Planet Shark: Predator or Prey," a touring exhibition dedicated to sharks. Taking visitors through 310 million years of shark evolution, the immersive experience debuts in May

US$300m redevelopment sees Bahamas cruise port reimagined with enhanced visitor experiences and new attractions


Nassau Cruise Port in the Bahamas is scheduled to reopen next month following a US$300m renovation targeting increased visitor numbers and an enhanced visitor experience

CBBC’s ‘Operation Ouch!’ to become major exhibition at Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum


A new blockbuster exhibition based on hit CBBC show Operation Ouch! will open at the Science and Industry Museum (SIM) in Manchester, UK, in July

Avenged Sevenfold to share new album early with 360º immersive experience at Area 15


You can hear Avenged Sevenfold’s upcoming Life Is But A Dream early thanks to a 360º Immersive Album Experience coming to AREA15 in Las Vegas next month

Rising with the rides: RWS’s Ryan Stana on how the cruise and attractions industries are reimagining entertainment


With the attractions and cruise industries seemingly closer than ever before, RWS CEO Ryan Stana speaks to Planet Attractions about what that means and the steps we can take to bring these two powerhouses under one metaphorical roof

High hopes: Construction begins on Atlantic City’s new cannabis museum


Work has started on a new agriculture museum dedicated to cannabis in Atlantic City. The museum is one of several marijuana-themed projects greenlit by the city in the hopes of attracting a new wave of ‘weed tourists’

‘Beyond the arena’: UFC set to offer ‘shared reality’ live events at all-new experiential venues


A first-of-its kind offering will make guests feel like they’re at the heart of the action during live UFC events, with Cosm’s ‘shared reality’ spectacles set to transform the way we watch live sporting events

Major cultural attraction announced for London with Museum of Shakespeare set to open in 2024


A major museum dedicated to William Shakespeare will be built on the foundations of the theatre where the famed playwright hosted some of his first works

Sega Purchases Angry Birds owner in US$706m deal


Sega Sammy Holdings has agreed a deal to acquire Rovio, with Sega aiming to accelerate its mobile gaming capabilities while also acquiring a powerful IP in the world of entertainment

The 407: Gateway to Adventure breaks ground on ‘Smoky Gap’ entertainment district


A major new development in Tennessee has broken ground, with The 407: Gateway to Adventure’s ‘Smoky Gap’ entertainment district promising to feature world-class attractions when it opens in 2025

Brand new Loch Ness attraction set to open in May


Continuum Attractions has taken up operations of the Loch Ness Centre, which is set to reopen next month following a £1.5m redevelopment

Carnegie Science Center to host adults-only speakeasy event


You can experience Carnegie Science Center with a roaring twenties twist on April 14, with the popular attraction set to host a special adults-only speakeasy night

‘Uber Eats’ for attractions: Love To Visit raises £2.1m to enhance UK operations


Digital attractions platform Love To Visit has raised £2.1m as it aims to corner the UK tourism attractions market and expand its operations overseas

Amnesty International says Cambodian government is overseeing ‘mass forced evictions’ from Unesco World Heritage site


Amnesty International says that Cambodian officials are forcing residents of the Angkor Wat World Heritage site to ‘voluntarily’ leave in the name of preserving the popular heritage attraction, with the move affecting an estimated 10,000 families

Major US$250m cruise destination under development in the Bahamas


The Caribbean’s most popular cruise destination is about to gain a major new port, with work on Calypso Cove to start towards the end of this year

I asked an AI to develop a Sonic the Hedgehog dark ride. Here’s what it came up with


Will AI take over the planet or could it just maybe develop your next new dark ride attraction? Tom Anstey asked an AI a few simple questions to see how it would do in developing such a ride concept

Rocky Mountain Coaster’s highly-anticipated Arie Force One makes debut at Fun Spot America Atlanta


Arie Force One has been cleared for take off at Fun Spot America Atlanta, with the RMC steel coaster hybrid marking a major addition to the Georgia theme park

Royal lives clause enters King Charles III into Disney vs DeSantis feud


Disney has managed to strip power from the newly-appointed board governing its Florida parks by invoking the name of King Charles III in an ongoing dispute with governor Ron DeSantis

Mexican President wants to build XCaret rival on controversially-seized cargo port


A cargo port controversially seized from a US company last week by the Mexican government has been earmarked for an XCaret style water and theme park, as well as a docking point for cruise ships

PIF’s Seven to develop world’s first Play-Doh attractions in partnership with Hasbro


Development company Seven is to launch the world’s first Play-Doh-themed attractions in partnership with Hasbro

Mission Holovis: How Holovis brought Ferrari World Abu Dhabi’s immersive mega coaster Mission Ferrari to life


Ferrari World Abu Dhabi’s Mission Ferrari opened to the public to much fanfare in January. Holovis’s James Lodder shares a decade-long journey to realise this incredible immersive rollercoaster experience

Disney unveils ‘real’ lightsaber at SXSW


Disney has revealed a ‘real’ lightsaber at this year’s SXSW, an arts and technology festival currently underway in Austin, Texas

International Women’s Day: Equality is the goal, but EQUITY is how we'll get there


Equity is different from equality, and on International Women’s Day Una de Boer reflects how to support this foundational step towards a more just world

Opening date announced for Fun Spot America’s highly-anticipated ArieForce One coaster


Fun Spot America Atlanta’s hotly-anticipated RMC-manufactured ArieForce One is set to open later this month, with the major attraction representing the park’s largest-ever investment

Scandinavia’s Olafur Eliasson to create major new artwork on UK coastline


Scandinavian artist Olafur Eliasson has collaborated with author Robert MacFarlance to create a permanent art installation on the West Cumbria coastline

Transforming the business: Meet the minds behind RWS Entertainment Group


Keith James, president of JRA; Robin Breese-Davies, executive vice president of ted; and Danielle Kramer, executive vice president of RWS, speak to Planet Attractions about what looks to be a bumper year ahead for the company

National Lottery Heritage Fund announces changes to funding priorities as part of Heritage 2023 strategy


The UK’s National Lottery Heritage Fund has announced several changes to its funding priorities to address concerns for the ‘health and future of the nation’s heritage’

How to work with content creators (influencers) to drive attendance and improve brand affinity


Adam Hattan explains how content creators can be effectively used to drive new and returning guests to your attraction

Ron DeSantis strips Disney of self-governing powers following ‘Don’t Say Gay’ row


Florida’s Republican governor has declared an end to Disney’s ‘corporate kingdom’ with new legislation seeing the state gaining effective control of the company’s Florida operations

High-tech security systems installed to protect Banksy’s Ukraine murals


Ukrainian security company Ajax Systems has installed US$13,000 worth of security equipment to protect several Banksy artworks in Kyiv created by the artist during the Russian invasion

Saudi Arabia’s PIF announces US$48bn New Murabba development in Riyadh anchored by giant cube


Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince has announced plans for New Murabba - a US$48bn commercial downtown development in Riyadh, anchored by a cube-shaped skyscraper large enough to accommodate 20 Empire State buildings

Merlin bringing multi-million-pound Gruffalo attraction to Blackpool


Merlin Entertainments is adding to its cluster of attractions in Blackpool, with a £2.3m Gruffalo-themed attraction set to open later this year

Treasure trove of David Bowie artefacts secured for permanent display at V&A East


Original costumes, set designs, drawings and handwritten lyrics will allow visitors to V&A East to trace David Bowie’s creative process across six decades

Formula 1 driver Romain Grosjean’s burnt-out car to go on display


Romain Grosjean’s torched F1 car from the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix is set to go on display as part of a wider touring exhibition looking at the world of F1

Manhattan’s first public beach to open in the summer


A riverside retreat featuring Manhattan’s first public beach is set to open in New York City this summer

DEAL 2023: Opening new doors in the Middle East


DEAL is coming back to Dubai next month. Here’s everything you need to know about the region’s hottest attractions show

World Heritage site reproduced using 3D printers opens in China


3D printing has been used to create a full-size replica of a World Heritage site in China, offering visitors an up close and personal experience while also securing crucial data for future world heritage protection

Blackpool Pleasure Beach seeks rollercoaster test rider ahead of new season


Fancy a job as a rollercoaster test rider? Well good news - Blackpool Pleasure Beach is on the hunt...

London to get its own Highline after Camden plans approved


London is set to emulate New York’s Highline with its own version running from Camden to St Pancras. Here’s everything you need to know about the £14m project

Unesco offers support as earthquake damages World Heritage sites in Turkey and Syria


Unesco has offered its support to the victims of the devastating earthquake that rocked Turkey and Syria this week as concern grows for a number of historically important World Heritage sites in the region

Titanic Belfast to reopen in March following £4.5m revamp


The popular Titanic Belfast attraction will reopen next month with four new galleries and a 7.6m-long replica of the iconic ship following a multi-million pound revamp

Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway comes to Disneyland as part of Disney100 celebrations


Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway is the featured addition to Disneyland as the park celebrates 100 years of Disney with a host of new attractions and experiences

Plans submitted to redevelop former Pleasure Island site into tourist destination


The former Pleasure Island could find new life as a tourist destination after plans were submitted to turn the former theme park into a £65.9m holiday site

Great Wolf Lodge breaks ground on US$300m resort in Connecticut


Operator Great Wolf has broken ground on a new US$300m resort in Connecticut, with a 91,000sq ft indoor waterpark set to be the development’s main attraction

SeaWorld makes leadership changes with a number of new roles created to accelerate growth


SeaWorld has announced a shakeup of its leadership structure, making eight new appointments as the company seeks to accelerate growth

Europe’s first triple launch coaster coming to Norway’s TusenFryd in April


Norway’s TusenFryd will soon launch Europe’s first ever suspended triple launch coaster, with the NOK100m Storm - The Dragon Legend being described as the ‘most important single investment’ in the park’s 34-year history

Greenville Zoo explores nonprofit model following strategic assessment


South Carolina’s Greenville Zoo is looking at changing to a nonprofit operation following a city consultation last month

British Museum workers among those set to strike in February


Workers at the British Museum along with a number of other institutions across the UK are set to go on strike in February

Children in hospital can now explore South Carolina Aquarium remotely using a robot


Patients at a number of children’s hospitals across the state of South Carolina can now explore Charleston’s popular aquarium remotely, using a robot to interact with the exhibits and take part in tours

Disney bringing major immersive experience to London, Berlin and Paris in 2023


Disney is celebrating 100 years with an adult-oriented immersive experience coming to London, Berlin and Paris in 2023

‘The Office’ visitor interactive experience coming to Toronto in March


An interactive experience taking visitors inside hit NBC sitcom ‘The Office’ is set to open in Toronto later this year

PIF’s Seven announces SAR1bn entertainment destination for Saudi city of Tabuk


Another mega project has been announced for Saudi Arabia, with the PIF’s Seven announcing plans for a SAR1bn entertainment destination in the city of Tabuk

WATCH: Anthony Palermo on how Connect&Go is transforming attractions operations


Connect&Go - a global leader in guest and attractions management technology - has grown significantly over the last decade. Its co-founder Anthony Palermo spoke to Planet Attractions

Chessington to open world’s first Jumanji coaster


Chessington World of Adventures has unveiled what will become the world’s first Jumanji-themed coaster when it opens later this year

MENALAC Awards head to Dubai for 2023 edition


The fifth annual MENALAC Awards ceremony will take place in Dubai, with the event bringing together senior leaders to celebrate attractions across the Middle East and North Africa

Attractions.io and SSA Group join forces to deliver fully digital experience to cultural attractions in 2023


Attractions.io has teamed up with SSA Group to provide a fully digital experience for visitors to cultural attractions in 2023

Bradford’s National Science and Media Museum to close ahead of year long £6m revamp


A ‘radical, once-in-a-generation’ development will see Bradford’s National Science and Media Museum undergo a year-long transformation starting in June



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