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'People' on Planet Attractions | Planet Attractions
 
'People' on Planet Attractions


Renowned artist Tracey Emin has been appointed a trustee of the British Museum, with Emin becoming the first female Royal Academician appointed to the role in the institution’s history.


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’


Daleks, the Tardiss and other icons of


A new theme park nestled within the forests of Japan’s northern Okinawa Prefecture will open in 2025, with the surrounding nature inspiring the soon-to-debut Jungalia.


A post-pandemic surge in tourist arrivals to the Middle East is fuelling a shift towards experiences over products, with destinations such as the upcoming Six Flags Qiddya and the SEVEN entertainment destinations predicted to net the region a combined US$14bn (€12.79bn, £11.89bn) annually by 2028.


A recent study has revealed that people from the Gen Z age bracket are seeking more sustainable brands, with customers feeling significantly more positive about those that make sustainability a priority.


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


Triotech has unveiled a brand new attraction at IAAPA Expo, with SuperFly set to debut in Canada at FEC NEB's Fun World.


Dual additions to accesso’s product portfolio have strengthened the attractions technology provider’s offering in 2023. Steve Drake, accesso’s senior vice president of Global Initiatives, speaks to Planet Attractions


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


One of the Edwardian era’s last remaining passenger steamships has docked in Kingston, Ontario, with the vessel set to become a permanent heritage attraction.


Benoit Cornet, CEO of dark ride specialists BoldMove Nation, has said that visitors are looking more and more for experiences they can immerse themselves in, with attention to detail being key to creating such an attraction.


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


The 2024 edition of the Museums + Heritage Awards will be open for nominations starting November 1.


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


Officials from Israeli museums have called on the International Council of Museums to recognise Hamas as a terror organisation “akin to the Taliban”


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 industry veteran Clara Rice has been named global marketing director of Adirondack Studios (ADKS), a creative solution provider targeting designers, producers, artists and other themed entertainment professionals.


Yorkshire’s Craven Museum has beaten off competition from some of the UK’s top museums, galleries, historic homes and heritage sites to be named the winner of this year’s Family Friendly Museum Award


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


Dr Nick Merriman is set to replace Kate Mavor CBE as chief executive of English Heritage, the charity has announced.


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


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


ADG’s Julie Kline speaks to Planet Attractions on everything the company has to offer, including the upcoming US$400m Okana development in Oklahoma


Alex Book, co-founder and chief strategy officer at Arcade – The Creative Reality Company, explains how attractions and cultural institutions can make use of immersive technologies to reach new audiences


A new exhibit from the National WWII Museum in New Orleans will give its visitors the opportunity to have conversations with some of the heroes of World War II, with AI technology powering the upcoming Voices from the Front experience


Disney’s ability to create high-quality content on movies and TV along with real-world versions of these experiences allows the company to “occupy an unrivalled presence within the minds of people across the globe”.


The 2023 edition of the Brand Licensing Expo is to host a new location-based entertainment trail offering special events in partnership with several major brands and IP


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


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...


Pittsburgh's Carnegie Science Center is set to welcome a popular Titanic exhibition, with visitors to be immersed in full-scale room re-creations of the doomed vessel alongside 154 authentic artefacts when it opens to the public next month.


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


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


A controversial housing development on the former site of Bristol Zoo in Clifton, UK, is to go ahead despite public backlash.


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


Up to seven people could soon be charged with the theft of a solid gold toilet stolen from Blenheim Palace in 2019 following a major breakthrough in the case


A Banksy exhibition has broken box office records at Glasgow’s Gallery of Modern Art, attracting more than 180,000 visitors during its 10 week run


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


The head of the Smithsonian Institution has apologised for its collection of human remains.


The Disney World resort has hosted its largest-ever wish-granting event with more than 50 children invited to the resort for its Once Upon A Wish Party


Pink paint being smeared onto a Tom Thomson work at the National Gallery of Canada is the latest in a long line of recent attacks against art in the name of protest.


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


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


France is taking action at a national level to counter over-tourism in major tourism locations such as the Unesco World Heritage site of Mont Saint Michel.


Heritage operation Severn Valley Railway (SVR) has confirmed the sale of one of its most popular locomotives in an effort to secure its financial future.


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


Norway’s cruise industry is booming, with 5.5 million passengers expected to make a port call during 2023 as individual visits shoot up by 29%


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


The Orlando Museum of Art is suing its former director Aaron De Groft for allegedly seeking to profit from the sale of several fake Jean-Michel Basquiat artworks


Republican governor Ron DeSantis has called for Disney CEO Bob Iger to drop the company’s federal lawsuit against the state of Florida


Astronaut and space diplomat Namira Salim has revealed plans to develop a new space tourism concept offering a space hotel, themed restaurants, a stargazing deck and a possible theme park


Historic England has announced the appointment of Conservative peer Lord Neil Mendoza as its new chair.


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...


Chessington World of Adventures has been announced as the host for this year’s UK Theme Park Awards, with George Akid set to return to his role as presenter during the awards ceremony at the popular attraction


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


Japanese people are opting to stay at home rather than travel overseas despite the complete end to Covid-travel restrictions in the country as of October 2022.


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


China’s Hangzhou Zoo has had to assure its visitors that its sun bears are not just people in costume, after footage of one of the animals standing like a person went viral online.


The Dr Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry (NMD) in Baltimore, US, has been awarded a US$1.28m (€1.2m, £1m) grant from the Science Education Partnership Award to transform how young people are taught about oral health.


The recently launched Sensational Museum project has outlined its goal to challenge the hierarchical split between museum provision for disabled and non-disabled people, and create museums that "work for everyone".


The UK’s national tourism board VisitBritain/VisitEngland is to open a new head office in Birmingham.


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 Roald Dahl Museum has announced plans to develop free resources for schools as part of its commitment to anti-racism.


A lioness currently being hunted in the southwestern outskirts of Berlin is not thought to be from any local zoos, animal sanctuaries or circuses.


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


A senior politician for the island nation of Tobago has said that a US$300m waterpark development must not come ‘at the expense of ordinary citizens’ as the country faces a water deficit


A young entrepreneur has raised upwards of US$100,000 in her ambition to build a theme park dedicated to the US state of Texas.


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


Sir Patrick Vallance, chairman of the board of trustees at London’s Natural History Museum, says he believes he is in “exactly the right place”,


Efteling saw record attendance in 2022, with 5.43 million people visiting the popular Dutch theme park.


A former Disney Imagineer has said the operator’s theme parks are more stressful and less fun for families.


Passenger and freight shipping company Arctic Umiaq Line and cruise operator Hurtigruten Norway have announced a new partnership designed to boost growth and opportunities in Greenland's tourism industry.


Molly Murphy has been named the new president of Universal Creative, with the former Gensler principal set to lead the design and creation of Universal theme park experiences across the world


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


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


Renowned British broadcaster Sir David Attenborough has unveiled a quote of his own outside London’s Natural History Museum.


The post-pandemic return of tourism worldwide has seen Merlin Entertainments move back to profit, with the operator returning to its pre-pandemic growth trajectory.


Virgin Voyages has partnered with Jennifer Lopez to launch Jen A.I. a new tool that enables guests to receive personalised invitations from the pop superstar


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


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


Eighteen museums from across the UK have been shortlisted for the Kids in Museums Family Friendly Museum Award.


The UK’s Chester Zoo has been awarded £318,323 (US$405,000, €370,000) by the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) that will be used to help create and restore vital habitats to support local wildlife.


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


Florida’s Republican governor Ron DeSantis is seeking to dismiss Disney’s federal lawsuit against him, claiming that he has “legislative immunity”.


One person has died and nine have been left seriously injured after a rollercoaster car derailed at Sweden’s Gröna Land amusement park


The UK’s Peace Museum has been awarded a £250,000 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund that will see the museum relocate to Saltaire, a World Heritage village in West Yorkshire


Five people have been killed after the Titan tourist submarine imploded less than two hours into a dive exploring the wreckage of the Titanic


On 18 May 2023, experts in resilience-based management and local teams from Unesco marine World Heritage sites met online to share best practices and first-hand insights on designing and implementing resilience strategies that take a holistic approach in addressing the impacts of climate change and help communities to adapt to the inevitable change.


A new exhibition at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, UK, will explore the city’s, and its famous university’s, links to the slave trade and exploitation.


accesso has announced the acquisition of leading ticketing and visitor management system provider VGS, with the award-winning SnApp platform to be rebranded accesso Horizon


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


Around 10,000 people gathered at Stonehenge for the annual summer solstice, with 154,000 more watching the event online.


The Sursock Museum in Beirut, Lebanon, has reopened to the public, almost three years after it was destroyed in a deadly explosion that claimed the lives of more than 200 people.


The conflict in Sudan has left experts fearing for the country’s cultural heritage, with museums unable to adequately protect their collections


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


Kingda Ka - the world’s tallest rollercoaster - is closed indefinitely following an incident where the ride’s launch cable snapped while riders were still on the attraction.


With huge floods hitting northern Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region in May, the country’s museums are playing their part in helping recovery, raising prices by €1 as part of a wider €2bn aid package.


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


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


The Biden administration has banned all new gas and oil drilling at Chaco Culture National Historical Park, a Unesco World Heritage Site in New Mexico, US, for the next 20 years.


Disney Cruise Line (DCL) has teamed up with several community organisations in the Bahamas to build a new garden at the Ranfurly Homes for Children, which is hoped will inspire the young residents to grow and eat their own produce.


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


Russia’s assault on Ukraine has claimed the lives of 300 animals after massive flooding of the Kazkova Dibrova Zoo occurred following the Kakhovka dam blast.


The China Science and Technology Museum says it has served more than 500 million people over the past two decades, with mobile projects aimed at popularising science taking place in some of the country’s most remote regions.


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...


Qatar has launched an exhibition showcasing plans for four new museums, with the Art Mill Museum, Lusail Museum, Qatar Auto Museum and Dadu Children’s Museum of Qatar all to open in the country by the end of the decade


An expansion of the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA) in Delhi will make the institution the largest art and culture centre in India when it opens in 2026.





London’s Horniman Museum is to undergo a £10m (US$13m, €12m) renovation that will ‘reinvigorate and re-interpret’ the Grade-Ilisted building and its surrounding hilltop gardens.


Scotland’s Natural & Cultural Heritage Fund (NCHF) has awarded a share of £22m (US$27m, €25m) to more than a dozen tourist attractions in the Scottish Highlands and Islands, as part of a new scheme to promote tourism in the area.


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


A late ninth- or early 10th-century book thought to be the earliest, most complete copy of the Hebrew Bible has sold at auction for US$38.1m (€35.5m, £30.5m), with the religious artefact set to become part of the permanent collection at the Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv, Israel.


How can you leverage user-generated content and photo purchases to drive revenue and simultaneously promote your attraction? Attractions.io’s Peter O’Dare has the answers...


The Denver Museum of Nature and Science in Colorado, US, is to close a gallery dedicated to Indigenous people and culture, which it says perpetuates racist stereotypes.


The Expo 2020 Dubai site continues to undergo its repurposing following the event, with more than 3,000 workers set to be based on-site by September.


London’s Vagina Museum will be forced to close its doors permanently if fundraising efforts are unsuccessful, the museum has announced


Seven architects and design firms have been named on a shortlist of seven to design a £100m attraction in the heart of Belfast, Northern Ireland.


A revamped museum at the home of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club has doubled attendance over the last 10 months, the Premier League club has said.


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


US civil rights organisation the NAACP has warned minority tourists against visiting Florida due to several ‘discriminatory’ laws supported by Republican governor Ron DeSantis


The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) has appointed celebrated architects Lina Ghotmeh and Asif Khan to design two major museums in Saudi Arabia.


The Carnival Dream cruise liner helped a number of people in need after their boat capsized in the Belize Channel.


Disney has scrapped plans for a US$1bn corporate campus in Lake Nono, Florida, as the company’s public feud with Florida governor Ron DeSantis continues


Showcasing exactly what it means to produce an immersive entertainment experience, RWS Entertainment Group and MSC Cruises have turned their eyes to fitness and wellbeing, with a new programme on MSC’s Euribia debuting in May and June for teens and kids.


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


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 exhibition, sharing multiple perspectives on The Troubles in Northern Ireland, will open at London’s Imperial War Museum at the end of May


Andreas Andersen speaks to Planet Attractions about what's coming for Liseberg following the launch of Luna Park, the opening of the Grand Curiosa Hotel and the soon-to-open Oceana waterpark


A consortium of art foundations and charitable organisations has launched a new funding initiative that aims to promote diversity and inclusion in art museum leadership roles across the US


The board appointed by Florida governor Ron DeSantis has filed a lawsuit against Disney just days after the entertainment giant sued the board for stripping it of its self-governed status


Ohio’s Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is set to debut a Ferris wheel attraction later this month, with the new Adventure Sky Wheel set to open to the public on May 27.


The British Museum has launched a new audio app to enhance its visitor 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


Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum has announced a new partnership with the Landmark Trust, which will see one of the UK city’s oldest surviving Georgian properties transformed into a heritage holiday home.


A UK-based military museum has become not only the first museum in the world to reach 100 million views on Youtube but also the most-watched museum-based YouTube channel in the world


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


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


A new outdoor art gallery, inspired by annual arts and music festival Burning Man, has opened on the Las Vegas strip


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


Jeff Shell has been removed from his position as CEO of NBCUniversal following a misconduct investigation


Architects Populous have revealed new images of plans to expand Premier League football club Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, with the plans including a new ‘skybar’ and rooftop walk visitor attraction.


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’


Hong Kong’s M+ Museum is to give away thousands of tickets to its blockbuster Yayoi Kusama exhibition in the hope that it will help raise discussions about mental health


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


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


Disney’s leadership structure continues to change, with Bob Iger naming company veteran Asad Ayaz as the company’s first-ever chief brand officer


The Bruce Museum of Arts and Science in Connecticut, US, has reopened following a US$60m (€55m, £48m) expansion.


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


The Children’s Museum in Tucson, Arizona, US, is set to undergo a major expansion to accommodate more visitors to the popular attraction.


SeaTrade Cruise Global has returned to Tampa, Florida, US, with a day of conferencing ahead of the launch of the show floor tomorrow (March 28).


Kate Mavor CBE has announced that she will step down as CEO of English Heritage later this year


SeaTrade Cruise Global is returning to Florida. Here’s everything you need to know...


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


London’s Natural History Museum was the British capital’s most visited attraction in 2022, new statistics have revealed.


More than 70 cultural organisations across Britain are to be given a financial boost by the government so they can improve people’s access to arts, support local economic growth through culture and safeguard vital local collections for future generations.


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


Sonia Coleman has been appointed to lead human resources at Disney after being named executive vice president and chief human resources officer.


Teaching the construction sector the necessary skills to retrofit the UK’s heritage structures could provide the British economy with a £35bn boost, a new report has suggested


The Whitney Museum of American Art’s long-term director Adam Weinberg is set to leave the institution in November, with Scott Rothkopf set to succeed him in the role


The Millennium Forum theatre in Derry has become the first Irish cultural venue to achieve Makaton Friendly Status


Tate Liverpool will close its doors in October ahead of a £25.5m multi-year redevlopment helmed by British architecture firm 6a architects


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


The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art has entered into a partnership with the Republic of Yemen Government, which will see the institution provide safe storage and care for 77 objects that are being repatriated to the country from the US.


BoldMove Nation is developing two new ‘phygital’ worlds - attractions that use technology to bridge the digital world with the physical world with the purpose of providing a unique interactive experience for the user.


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’


Nicole Scherzinger has partnered with P&O Cruises in a deal that will see the multi-award-winning performer create “spectacular music and dance extravaganzas” for the operator in an exclusive entertainment partnership.


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


Objects belonging to the great Cree leader Poundmaker were returned to his family by the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) on Wednesday, February 22, more than 136 years after his death.


Attractions management platform Convious is set to grow its advertising module in 2023, with the technology creating a new solution to maximise promotion for its clients.


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


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


The father of a 14-year-old boy who fell to his death from the Orlando FreeFall attraction last year has expressed his hope that a new law in the works will help ensure such an incident never happens again.


Work has started on repairs to the lodge that will eventually become the first permanent space for the Museum of Homelessness (MoH).


Cedar Fair has broken revenue and earnings records, with the operator bouncing back from the effects of the global pandemic


A recent survey suggesting the public would support the phasing out of large animals in zoos doesn’t ‘seem to relate to the real world’, according to BIAZA


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


A UK museum has switched from a model of free exhibitions and paid-for temporary ones by introducing a ‘pay if and what you can’ one.


A local council in the UK has hit back at British TV personality Jeremy Clarkson, saying that his popular Diddly Squat Farm must be treated like any other.


From waterpark suppliers and media specialists to creative designers and dark ride producers, Planet Attractions has gone to every corner of the globe to find out what’s hot in 2023


While London’s National Portrait Gallery (NPG) undergoes its facelift, the institution is also revamping its branding, with a new logo based on a 19th-century sketch.


Disney continues to celebrate its centenary, with the company unveiling a new video looking back at the last 100 years.


Disney is set to axe 7,000 people as part of a US$5.5bn cost cutting plan following its Q1 results. The operator’s parks however continue to thrive with the Parks, Experiences and Products division performing strongly


A museum dedicated to sharing Scotland’s history with the occult will open in Edinburgh at the end of February


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


Three names involved in the tourism and attractions industries have been named in the Dubai 100 - a list representing the 100 most powerful people in the UAE city.


‘More people than ever’ are exploring the possibility of booking a cruise, with new research showing a 10% increase in the number of people planning such a journey.


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


Disney has been recognised as the top-ranked media and entertainment company on


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


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


Kids in Museums has launched a new initiative aimed at having young people discuss, learn and advocate for the future of the museum sector


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


While Donald Trump’s hopes for re-election as US president may be faltering, the nappy-wearing depiction of him made famous during a UK protest in 2018 has had new life breathed into it, as the Museum of London has reinflated it.


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


Three statues thought to be the first sculptures depicting black British people on display in England are set to return to Brixton station later.


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


One of the world’s most anticipated museums will finally open this year after a more than 20-year development process with work now complete on Cairo’s Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM).


Ukrainian refugees living on an Ambassador Cruise Line ship in Glasgow are to be rehomed as the Scottish government's contract with the vessel comes to an end.


Visitor numbers at a museum in Winchcombe, UK, have trebled following the small attraction’s acquisition of a meteorite that crashed into a driveway of the market town in 2021.



After a difficult few years the museum sector is showing promising signs of recovery with several exciting projects set to open this year. Here are 14 of 2023’s most anticipated museum openings


The Florida Aquarium just saw its best attendance since it opened at the edge of downtown Tampa 27 years ago.


The original owners of a 50-year-old theme park in Lubbock, Texas, US, have announced that the park will not reopen following the collapse of a sale.


A plot to steal a 10-tonne ancient statue of Egyptian Pharaoh Ramesses II has been foiled after police arrested three men attempting to make away with the gigantic antiquity


A zoo in Gibraltar has embarked on a new mission to modernise its technology in an attempt to better engage with visitors both digitally and in person.


It’s a new year with old records just waiting to be broken by some incredible new projects. Here are twelve blockbuster rollercoaster openings for the coming year


A Ukrainian activist who tried to take a Banksy work from Kyiv faces a 12-year prison sentence for an act he says was intended to support the work of the country’s army


A new version of Amazon’s Alexa digital voice assistant will come complete with Disney branding and the ability to work alongside the operator’s MagicBand+ technology


Paris’ iconic Louvre Museum has revealed its visitor numbers for 2022, with 7.8 million people flocking to the iconic institution last year.


London’s National Portrait Gallery (NPG) will reopen in June 2023 after a three-year closure.


Around 4,500 people gathered at Stonehenge for the annual winter solstice, with a further 100,000 watching the event online.


A huge new outdoor waterpark centred around a lagoon capable of producing 2m waves has been proposed for the county of Kent in the UK.


The Neobio Museum is a brand new attraction in Shanghai, China, offering experiential STEM education to young people


The Museum of Sex is expanding, with the New York attraction announcing plans to open a new Miami location in the spring


Berlin’s AquaDom aquarium exploded in the early hours of the morning on December 15. It contained a million litres of water and more than 100 different fish species


When it comes to all-in-one solutions for visitor attractions, Semnox’s Venue Management Software system has transformed operations at popular FEC Kokomo Joe’s. Here’s how the technology works


Merlin Entertainments has named Paul Moreton as its new chief development officer, effective from January 1, 2023.


A world-first Discovery entertainment centre is coming to Saudi Arabia with more to follow in the coming years


The highly-anticipated Pipeline surf coaster is coming to SeaWorld Orlando this spring. SeaWorld’s vice president of rides and engineering, Jonathan Smith, spoke to Planet Attractions about the project


Virtual reality specialist Spree has been named winner of the People’s Choice Award at this year’s MAPIC event, with the recognition adding to an ever-expanding list of industry awards and nominations picked up in 2022.


Convious has signed a multi-year deal with West Midland Safari Park to supply its fully-integrated eCommerce and guest experience platform


Culture, heritage and sport sites are set to receive £4.5m over the next three years to support actions in the Welsh Government’s Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan


The Line at NEOM - an upcoming vertical city that will house nine million people and feature numerous cultural attractions - is being built through AI, its developers say.


Saudi Entertainment Ventures - part of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund - will develop more than 150 new attractions in the kingdom across 21 integrated entertainment destinations


Merlin executive Fiona Eastwood has been promoted to oversee the operator’s global portfolio of theme parks and midway attractions


World-leading visitor transportation specialist Severn Lamb has announced a major move in the acquisition of US company Trams International


Directors from The Met, British Museum, Louvre and National Gallery have signed an open letter published by ICOM condemning the ‘risky endangerment’ of irreplaceable artworks in climate demonstrations


More than 36,000 people travelled to Orlando in November for the annual spectacular known as IAAPA Expo. Planet Attractions was in attendance


The attractions industry and wider attractions community has paid tribute to the legendary Alberto Zamperla following his death last week aged 71


In a shocking move, Disney has reappointed Bob Iger as CEO, effective immediately, as Bob Chapek is ousted after less than three years in the role


Red Raion will offer an exclusive preview of its latest title - ‘Around the World in 80 Days - Journey of Wonders’ - at this year’s IAAPA Expo


Visitors to Shanghai Disney were shut inside the park, with people not allowed to leave the popular theme park until they were able to show a negative Covid test.


Following a special panel session featuring some of the UK’s top theme park content creators, Planet Attractions joined Jack Silkstone, Sean and Jo Dyer, and Kieran Adams as they explored this year’s IAAPA Expo Europe in London


The Universal Resort theme park in Beijing has been closed due to Covid-19 prevention measures.


The National Emergency Services Museum in Sheffield has been named the UK’s most family-friendly museum.



Flight bookings to Qatar and the UAE are currently 10 times higher than pre-pandemic levels ahead of this winter’s FIFA World Cup


Convious showcased its digital engagement platform at this year’s IAAPA Expo Europe. The company’s managing director for the UK & Ireland, Andy Povey, tells Planet Attractions about everything the company has to offer


The new iPhone 14 Pro has a fantastic feature that activates when it thinks a user has been in a crash. This however isn’t great for theme parks, with the phone reportedly automatically calling emergency services after riding on a rollercoaster.



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





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




Saudi Arabia wins bid to host World Expo 2030 in Riyadh




Industry insights



Using technology to take the visitor experience beyond the four walls




Video



WATCH: Steve Drake on accesso’s expanding portfolio

In Depth



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



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Tracey Emin joins British Museum as trustee


Renowned artist Tracey Emin has been appointed a trustee of the British Museum, with Emin becoming the first female Royal Academician appointed to the role in the institution’s history.

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’

LCI produces water projections for 60th anniversary of Doctor Who


Daleks, the Tardiss and other icons of

Theme park inspired by nature to debut in Japan in 2025


A new theme park nestled within the forests of Japan’s northern Okinawa Prefecture will open in 2025, with the surrounding nature inspiring the soon-to-debut Jungalia.

Middle East’s leisure and entertainment industry predicted to hit US$14bn by 2028 as experience economy surges


A post-pandemic surge in tourist arrivals to the Middle East is fuelling a shift towards experiences over products, with destinations such as the upcoming Six Flags Qiddya and the SEVEN entertainment destinations predicted to net the region a combined US$14bn (€12.79bn, £11.89bn) annually by 2028.

Gen Z seeks brands that prioritise sustainability, says study


A recent study has revealed that people from the Gen Z age bracket are seeking more sustainable brands, with customers feeling significantly more positive about those that make sustainability a priority.

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

Triotech announces new SuperFly attraction coming to NEB's Fun World


Triotech has unveiled a brand new attraction at IAAPA Expo, with SuperFly set to debut in Canada at FEC NEB's Fun World.

WATCH: Steve Drake on accesso’s expanding portfolio


Dual additions to accesso’s product portfolio have strengthened the attractions technology provider’s offering in 2023. Steve Drake, accesso’s senior vice president of Global Initiatives, speaks to Planet Attractions

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

Historic cruise ship offers ‘exciting legacy project’


One of the Edwardian era’s last remaining passenger steamships has docked in Kingston, Ontario, with the vessel set to become a permanent heritage attraction.

‘Immersion’ top of list for world-class dark ride development


Benoit Cornet, CEO of dark ride specialists BoldMove Nation, has said that visitors are looking more and more for experiences they can immerse themselves in, with attention to detail being key to creating such an attraction.

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

Nominations for Museums + Heritage Awards to open November 1


The 2024 edition of the Museums + Heritage Awards will be open for nominations starting November 1.

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

Israeli museum officials issue urgent appeal to ICOM to condemn Hamas attacks in open letter


Officials from Israeli museums have called on the International Council of Museums to recognise Hamas as a terror organisation “akin to the Taliban”

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

Clara Rice joins Adirondack Studios as global marketing director


Attractions industry veteran Clara Rice has been named global marketing director of Adirondack Studios (ADKS), a creative solution provider targeting designers, producers, artists and other themed entertainment professionals.

Craven Museum named winner of Family Friendly Museum Award 2023


Yorkshire’s Craven Museum has beaten off competition from some of the UK’s top museums, galleries, historic homes and heritage sites to be named the winner of this year’s Family Friendly Museum Award

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

Dr Nick Merriman named as chief executive of English Heritage


Dr Nick Merriman is set to replace Kate Mavor CBE as chief executive of English Heritage, the charity has announced.

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

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

WATCH: Julie Kline on ADG, EpicSurf and company’s development pipeline


ADG’s Julie Kline speaks to Planet Attractions on everything the company has to offer, including the upcoming US$400m Okana development in Oklahoma

Using technology to take the visitor experience beyond the four walls


Alex Book, co-founder and chief strategy officer at Arcade – The Creative Reality Company, explains how attractions and cultural institutions can make use of immersive technologies to reach new audiences

Upcoming AI experience allows museum visitors to speak to the heroes of World War II


A new exhibit from the National WWII Museum in New Orleans will give its visitors the opportunity to have conversations with some of the heroes of World War II, with AI technology powering the upcoming Voices from the Front experience

Disney occupies ‘unrivalled presence within the minds of people across the globe’, says analyst


Disney’s ability to create high-quality content on movies and TV along with real-world versions of these experiences allows the company to “occupy an unrivalled presence within the minds of people across the globe”.

Brand Licensing Expo gets underway with new location-based entertainment trail


The 2023 edition of the Brand Licensing Expo is to host a new location-based entertainment trail offering special events in partnership with several major brands and IP

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

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...

Titanic exhibition set to arrive at Carnegie Science Centre


Pittsburgh's Carnegie Science Center is set to welcome a popular Titanic exhibition, with visitors to be immersed in full-scale room re-creations of the doomed vessel alongside 154 authentic artefacts when it opens to the public next month.

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

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

Controversial Bristol Zoo housing development to go ahead despite public backlash


A controversial housing development on the former site of Bristol Zoo in Clifton, UK, is to go ahead despite public backlash.

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

Breakthrough in Blenheim Palace US$6m gold toilet theft


Up to seven people could soon be charged with the theft of a solid gold toilet stolen from Blenheim Palace in 2019 following a major breakthrough in the case

Banksy’s first solo exhibition in 14 years draws record numbers to Glasgow gallery


A Banksy exhibition has broken box office records at Glasgow’s Gallery of Modern Art, attracting more than 180,000 visitors during its 10 week run

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

Smithsonian apologises for collection of human remains


The head of the Smithsonian Institution has apologised for its collection of human remains.

Disney World hosts largest-ever wish-granting event for World Princess Week


The Disney World resort has hosted its largest-ever wish-granting event with more than 50 children invited to the resort for its Once Upon A Wish Party

Pink paint smear at National Gallery of Canada the latest in long line of art-related climate protests


Pink paint being smeared onto a Tom Thomson work at the National Gallery of Canada is the latest in a long line of recent attacks against art in the name of protest.

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

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

France set to combat over-tourism at popular heritage sites


France is taking action at a national level to counter over-tourism in major tourism locations such as the Unesco World Heritage site of Mont Saint Michel.

Heritage railway forced to sell historic locomotive amid rising costs


Heritage operation Severn Valley Railway (SVR) has confirmed the sale of one of its most popular locomotives in an effort to secure its financial future.

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

Norwegian cruising at an all-time high as 5.5 million sail to destination in 2023


Norway’s cruise industry is booming, with 5.5 million passengers expected to make a port call during 2023 as individual visits shoot up by 29%

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

Orlando Museum of Art sues former director for seeking to profit from fake Basquiats


The Orlando Museum of Art is suing its former director Aaron De Groft for allegedly seeking to profit from the sale of several fake Jean-Michel Basquiat artworks

DeSantis calls for Disney to drop federal lawsuit against him


Republican governor Ron DeSantis has called for Disney CEO Bob Iger to drop the company’s federal lawsuit against the state of Florida

Astronaut Namira Salim reveals concept for Earth’s first ‘space hotel’ and resort


Astronaut and space diplomat Namira Salim has revealed plans to develop a new space tourism concept offering a space hotel, themed restaurants, a stargazing deck and a possible theme park

Lord Mendoza appointed chair of Historic England


Historic England has announced the appointment of Conservative peer Lord Neil Mendoza as its new chair.

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...

UK Theme Park Awards 2023 come to Chessington World of Adventures as George Akid announced as presenter


Chessington World of Adventures has been announced as the host for this year’s UK Theme Park Awards, with George Akid set to return to his role as presenter during the awards ceremony at the popular attraction

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

Japanese tourists staying at home despite lifting of Covid travel restrictions


Japanese people are opting to stay at home rather than travel overseas despite the complete end to Covid-travel restrictions in the country as of October 2022.

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

Bears are not humans in disguise, insists Chinese zoo


China’s Hangzhou Zoo has had to assure its visitors that its sun bears are not just people in costume, after footage of one of the animals standing like a person went viral online.

National Museum of Dentistry receives US$1.28m grant to revolutionise oral health education for young learners


The Dr Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry (NMD) in Baltimore, US, has been awarded a US$1.28m (€1.2m, £1m) grant from the Science Education Partnership Award to transform how young people are taught about oral health.

Sensational Museum project aims to change how museums work for everyone


The recently launched Sensational Museum project has outlined its goal to challenge the hierarchical split between museum provision for disabled and non-disabled people, and create museums that "work for everyone".

VisitBritain to open new headquarters in Birmingham


The UK’s national tourism board VisitBritain/VisitEngland is to open a new head office in Birmingham.

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

Roald Dahl Museum takes action to address legacy of author’s racism


The Roald Dahl Museum has announced plans to develop free resources for schools as part of its commitment to anti-racism.

Suspected lion roaming Berlin area not from a zoo


A lioness currently being hunted in the southwestern outskirts of Berlin is not thought to be from any local zoos, animal sanctuaries or circuses.

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

Minister questions US$300m Tobago waterpark project over water shortages


A senior politician for the island nation of Tobago has said that a US$300m waterpark development must not come ‘at the expense of ordinary citizens’ as the country faces a water deficit

Entrepreneur eyes ‘TexasLand’ theme park


A young entrepreneur has raised upwards of US$100,000 in her ambition to build a theme park dedicated to the US state of Texas.

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

Sir Patrick Vallance says he is in ‘exactly the right place’ as Natural History Museum chairman


Sir Patrick Vallance, chairman of the board of trustees at London’s Natural History Museum, says he believes he is in “exactly the right place”,

Efteling breaks visitor attendance record


Efteling saw record attendance in 2022, with 5.43 million people visiting the popular Dutch theme park.

Modern Disney more stressful and less fun for families, says former Imagineer


A former Disney Imagineer has said the operator’s theme parks are more stressful and less fun for families.

Arctic Umiaq Line and Hurtigruten Norway join forces to promote sustainable tourism in Greenland


Passenger and freight shipping company Arctic Umiaq Line and cruise operator Hurtigruten Norway have announced a new partnership designed to boost growth and opportunities in Greenland's tourism industry.

Molly Murphy to lead Universal Creative after being named new president


Molly Murphy has been named the new president of Universal Creative, with the former Gensler principal set to lead the design and creation of Universal theme park experiences across the world

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

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

Sir David Attenborough unveils quote at Natural History Museum


Renowned British broadcaster Sir David Attenborough has unveiled a quote of his own outside London’s Natural History Museum.

Return of international tourists brings Merlin back to profit


The post-pandemic return of tourism worldwide has seen Merlin Entertainments move back to profit, with the operator returning to its pre-pandemic growth trajectory.

Virgin Voyages launches next ‘Jeneration’ AI tool with Jennifer Lopez


Virgin Voyages has partnered with Jennifer Lopez to launch Jen A.I. a new tool that enables guests to receive personalised invitations from the pop superstar

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

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

Shortlist revealed for Family Friendly Museum Award


Eighteen museums from across the UK have been shortlisted for the Kids in Museums Family Friendly Museum Award.

UK’s Chester Zoo awarded more than £300,000 by National Lottery Heritage Fund to boost wildlife conservation and community engagement


The UK’s Chester Zoo has been awarded £318,323 (US$405,000, €370,000) by the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) that will be used to help create and restore vital habitats to support local wildlife.

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

DeSantis claims ‘legislative immunity’ in bid to dismiss Disney lawsuit


Florida’s Republican governor Ron DeSantis is seeking to dismiss Disney’s federal lawsuit against him, claiming that he has “legislative immunity”.

One dead and nine injured in rollercoaster crash at Sweden’s Gröna Lund


One person has died and nine have been left seriously injured after a rollercoaster car derailed at Sweden’s Gröna Land amusement park

UK’s Peace Museum to reopen in Unesco World Heritage village in 2024


The UK’s Peace Museum has been awarded a £250,000 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund that will see the museum relocate to Saltaire, a World Heritage village in West Yorkshire

Five die as Titan tourist submarine found to have imploded less than two hours into dive


Five people have been killed after the Titan tourist submarine imploded less than two hours into a dive exploring the wreckage of the Titanic

Unesco: Building climate resilience for people and nature at marine World Heritage sites


On 18 May 2023, experts in resilience-based management and local teams from Unesco marine World Heritage sites met online to share best practices and first-hand insights on designing and implementing resilience strategies that take a holistic approach in addressing the impacts of climate change and help communities to adapt to the inevitable change.

New exhibition at Cambridge’s Fitzwilliam Museum explores the city’s links to slavery


A new exhibition at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, UK, will explore the city’s, and its famous university’s, links to the slave trade and exploitation.

accesso acquires VGS in major deal that sees VGS platform rebranded accesso Horizon


accesso has announced the acquisition of leading ticketing and visitor management system provider VGS, with the award-winning SnApp platform to be rebranded accesso Horizon

Europa-Park reopens following blaze


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

Thousands descend on Stonehenge to welcome summer solstice


Around 10,000 people gathered at Stonehenge for the annual summer solstice, with 154,000 more watching the event online.

Beirut’s Sursock Museum reopens three years after being destroyed in an explosion that killed 220 people


The Sursock Museum in Beirut, Lebanon, has reopened to the public, almost three years after it was destroyed in a deadly explosion that claimed the lives of more than 200 people.

Concerns for Sudan’s cultural heritage as armed military conflict continues


The conflict in Sudan has left experts fearing for the country’s cultural heritage, with museums unable to adequately protect their collections

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

World’s tallest rollercoaster closed indefinitely following cable snap


Kingda Ka - the world’s tallest rollercoaster - is closed indefinitely following an incident where the ride’s launch cable snapped while riders were still on the attraction.

Italy raises museum prices as part of €2bn flood aid package


With huge floods hitting northern Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region in May, the country’s museums are playing their part in helping recovery, raising prices by €1 as part of a wider €2bn aid package.

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

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

Biden bans drilling around Unesco World Heritage Site to preserve archaelogical ruins


The Biden administration has banned all new gas and oil drilling at Chaco Culture National Historical Park, a Unesco World Heritage Site in New Mexico, US, for the next 20 years.

Disney Cruise Line aims to inspire children in the Bahamas with backyard gardening project


Disney Cruise Line (DCL) has teamed up with several community organisations in the Bahamas to build a new garden at the Ranfurly Homes for Children, which is hoped will inspire the young residents to grow and eat their own produce.

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

Ukraine dam explosion takes lives of 300 zoo animals


Russia’s assault on Ukraine has claimed the lives of 300 animals after massive flooding of the Kazkova Dibrova Zoo occurred following the Kakhovka dam blast.

Travelling science exhibitions serve more than 500 million people in China


The China Science and Technology Museum says it has served more than 500 million people over the past two decades, with mobile projects aimed at popularising science taking place in some of the country’s most remote regions.

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...

Qatar unveils ‘next generation’ of cultural institutions at Venice Biennale


Qatar has launched an exhibition showcasing plans for four new museums, with the Art Mill Museum, Lusail Museum, Qatar Auto Museum and Dadu Children’s Museum of Qatar all to open in the country by the end of the decade

Adjaye expansion will turn museum into India’s largest art and culture centre


An expansion of the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA) in Delhi will make the institution the largest art and culture centre in India when it opens in 2026.

Science Centre Singapore debuts emerging technologies exhibition



London’s Horniman Museum reveals plans for £10m ‘Nature + Love’ regeneration project


London’s Horniman Museum is to undergo a £10m (US$13m, €12m) renovation that will ‘reinvigorate and re-interpret’ the Grade-Ilisted building and its surrounding hilltop gardens.

Natural and Cultural Heritage Fund commits £22m to attractions in the Scottish Highlands


Scotland’s Natural & Cultural Heritage Fund (NCHF) has awarded a share of £22m (US$27m, €25m) to more than a dozen tourist attractions in the Scottish Highlands and Islands, as part of a new scheme to promote tourism in the area.

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

Hebrew Bible to go on display at Jewish Museum following US$38.1m purchase


A late ninth- or early 10th-century book thought to be the earliest, most complete copy of the Hebrew Bible has sold at auction for US$38.1m (€35.5m, £30.5m), with the religious artefact set to become part of the permanent collection at the Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv, Israel.

It takes a village: How to increase spending and social reach through micro-influencing with Attractions.io


How can you leverage user-generated content and photo purchases to drive revenue and simultaneously promote your attraction? Attractions.io’s Peter O’Dare has the answers...

Denver Museum to close ‘harmful’ Indigenous people gallery


The Denver Museum of Nature and Science in Colorado, US, is to close a gallery dedicated to Indigenous people and culture, which it says perpetuates racist stereotypes.

Expo 2020 site transformation continues as site prepares to welcome new businesses


The Expo 2020 Dubai site continues to undergo its repurposing following the event, with more than 3,000 workers set to be based on-site by September.

London’s Vagina Museum could close permanently if fundraising efforts are unsuccessful


London’s Vagina Museum will be forced to close its doors permanently if fundraising efforts are unsuccessful, the museum has announced

Major names shortlisted to create £100m Belfast visitor experience


Seven architects and design firms have been named on a shortlist of seven to design a £100m attraction in the heart of Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Attendance doubles at revamped Wolverhampton Wanderers football museum


A revamped museum at the home of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club has doubled attendance over the last 10 months, the Premier League club has said.

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

NAACP says Florida is ‘actively hostile’ to minorities, issues travel advisory to tourists


US civil rights organisation the NAACP has warned minority tourists against visiting Florida due to several ‘discriminatory’ laws supported by Republican governor Ron DeSantis

Architects selected for major museum projects in Saudi Arabia


The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) has appointed celebrated architects Lina Ghotmeh and Asif Khan to design two major museums in Saudi Arabia.

Carnival cruise ship rescues 17 people near Belize


The Carnival Dream cruise liner helped a number of people in need after their boat capsized in the Belize Channel.

Disney scraps US$1bn Florida campus amidst DeSantis feud


Disney has scrapped plans for a US$1bn corporate campus in Lake Nono, Florida, as the company’s public feud with Florida governor Ron DeSantis continues

Turning fitness and wellbeing into entertainment with RWS and MSC Cruises


Showcasing exactly what it means to produce an immersive entertainment experience, RWS Entertainment Group and MSC Cruises have turned their eyes to fitness and wellbeing, with a new programme on MSC’s Euribia debuting in May and June for teens and kids.

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

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

London’s Imperial War Museum to open exhibition exploring The Troubles in Northern Ireland


A new exhibition, sharing multiple perspectives on The Troubles in Northern Ireland, will open at London’s Imperial War Museum at the end of May

100 years of Liseberg: Andreas Andersen on park's centenary additions


Andreas Andersen speaks to Planet Attractions about what's coming for Liseberg following the launch of Luna Park, the opening of the Grand Curiosa Hotel and the soon-to-open Oceana waterpark

New funding initiative commits US$11m to promote diversity in leadership at US art museums


A consortium of art foundations and charitable organisations has launched a new funding initiative that aims to promote diversity and inclusion in art museum leadership roles across the US

Disney vs DeSantis: Florida governor’s oversight board files counter suit as Disney dispute escalates


The board appointed by Florida governor Ron DeSantis has filed a lawsuit against Disney just days after the entertainment giant sued the board for stripping it of its self-governed status

Columbus Zoo set to debut Adventure Sky Wheel


Ohio’s Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is set to debut a Ferris wheel attraction later this month, with the new Adventure Sky Wheel set to open to the public on May 27.

British Museum offers self-guided tours with new audio app


The British Museum has launched a new audio app to enhance its visitor experience.

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

Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum partners with Landmark Trust to transform Georgian station house into a heritage holiday home


Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum has announced a new partnership with the Landmark Trust, which will see one of the UK city’s oldest surviving Georgian properties transformed into a heritage holiday home.

UK’s Tank Museum becomes world’s first museum to reach 100 million views on YouTube


A UK-based military museum has become not only the first museum in the world to reach 100 million views on Youtube but also the most-watched museum-based YouTube channel in the world

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

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

Burning Man-inspired art gallery opens in Las Vegas


A new outdoor art gallery, inspired by annual arts and music festival Burning Man, has opened on the Las Vegas strip

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

Jeff Shell steps down as NBCUniversal CEO following ‘inappropriate conduct’


Jeff Shell has been removed from his position as CEO of NBCUniversal following a misconduct investigation

Rooftop walk and skybar included in entertainment-focussed expansion of Manchester City stadium


Architects Populous have revealed new images of plans to expand Premier League football club Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, with the plans including a new ‘skybar’ and rooftop walk visitor attraction.

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’

M+ Museum to gift 10,000 tickets to Yayoi Kusama exhibition to foster discussions on mental health


Hong Kong’s M+ Museum is to give away thousands of tickets to its blockbuster Yayoi Kusama exhibition in the hope that it will help raise discussions about mental health

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

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

Asad Ayaz named Disney’s first-ever chief brand officer


Disney’s leadership structure continues to change, with Bob Iger naming company veteran Asad Ayaz as the company’s first-ever chief brand officer

Bruce Museum reopens after US$60m expansion


The Bruce Museum of Arts and Science in Connecticut, US, has reopened following a US$60m (€55m, £48m) expansion.

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

Tucson’s Children’s Museum set to undergo major expansion


The Children’s Museum in Tucson, Arizona, US, is set to undergo a major expansion to accommodate more visitors to the popular attraction.

SeaTrade Cruise Global kicks off in Tampa


SeaTrade Cruise Global has returned to Tampa, Florida, US, with a day of conferencing ahead of the launch of the show floor tomorrow (March 28).

English Heritage CEO to step down


Kate Mavor CBE has announced that she will step down as CEO of English Heritage later this year

Everything you need to know about SeaTrade Cruise Global 2023


SeaTrade Cruise Global is returning to Florida. Here’s everything you need to know...

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

Natural History Museum London’s most visited attraction in 2022


London’s Natural History Museum was the British capital’s most visited attraction in 2022, new statistics have revealed.

UK’s culture venues, museums and libraries receive £60m funding boost


More than 70 cultural organisations across Britain are to be given a financial boost by the government so they can improve people’s access to arts, support local economic growth through culture and safeguard vital local collections for future generations.

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

Sonia Coleman appointed to lead HR at Disney


Sonia Coleman has been appointed to lead human resources at Disney after being named executive vice president and chief human resources officer.

Green retrofit of UK’s heritage sector could provide £35bn economic boost


Teaching the construction sector the necessary skills to retrofit the UK’s heritage structures could provide the British economy with a £35bn boost, a new report has suggested

After two decades at the helm, Adam Weinberg is set to step down as Whitney director


The Whitney Museum of American Art’s long-term director Adam Weinberg is set to leave the institution in November, with Scott Rothkopf set to succeed him in the role

Derry theatre becomes first in Ireland to achieve Makaton Friendly Status


The Millennium Forum theatre in Derry has become the first Irish cultural venue to achieve Makaton Friendly Status

Tate Liverpool to close in October ahead of £25.5m renovation


Tate Liverpool will close its doors in October ahead of a £25.5m multi-year redevlopment helmed by British architecture firm 6a architects

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

Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art partners with Republic of Yemen Government to store repatriated objects


The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art has entered into a partnership with the Republic of Yemen Government, which will see the institution provide safe storage and care for 77 objects that are being repatriated to the country from the US.

BoldMove bridging the physical and the digital with interactive experiences


BoldMove Nation is developing two new ‘phygital’ worlds - attractions that use technology to bridge the digital world with the physical world with the purpose of providing a unique interactive experience for the user.

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’

Nicole Scherzinger teams up with P&O Cruises to create entertainment extravaganzas


Nicole Scherzinger has partnered with P&O Cruises in a deal that will see the multi-award-winning performer create “spectacular music and dance extravaganzas” for the operator in an exclusive entertainment partnership.

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

Royal Ontario Museum returns belongings to family of Cree leader


Objects belonging to the great Cree leader Poundmaker were returned to his family by the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) on Wednesday, February 22, more than 136 years after his death.

Convious expanding advertising platform in 2023


Attractions management platform Convious is set to grow its advertising module in 2023, with the technology creating a new solution to maximise promotion for its clients.

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

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

Father of 14-year-old who died falling from ride hopes new bill will prevent future tragedy


The father of a 14-year-old boy who fell to his death from the Orlando FreeFall attraction last year has expressed his hope that a new law in the works will help ensure such an incident never happens again.

Museum of Homelessness developing first permanent base in Finsbury Park


Work has started on repairs to the lodge that will eventually become the first permanent space for the Museum of Homelessness (MoH).

Cedar Fair makes record US$1.82bn in 2022


Cedar Fair has broken revenue and earnings records, with the operator bouncing back from the effects of the global pandemic

BIAZA rejects survey suggesting large animals should be phased out of zoos but agrees more can be done to support animal conservation


A recent survey suggesting the public would support the phasing out of large animals in zoos doesn’t ‘seem to relate to the real world’, according to BIAZA

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

Museum switches to pay what you can model


A UK museum has switched from a model of free exhibitions and paid-for temporary ones by introducing a ‘pay if and what you can’ one.

Council hits back at Jeremy Clarkson over Diddly Squat Farm Shop


A local council in the UK has hit back at British TV personality Jeremy Clarkson, saying that his popular Diddly Squat Farm must be treated like any other.

Supplier Showcase 2023: The biggest attractions projects landing worldwide this year


From waterpark suppliers and media specialists to creative designers and dark ride producers, Planet Attractions has gone to every corner of the globe to find out what’s hot in 2023

National Portrait Gallery gets new logo ahead of June reopening


While London’s National Portrait Gallery (NPG) undergoes its facelift, the institution is also revamping its branding, with a new logo based on a 19th-century sketch.

Disney releases new video looking back at 100 years of storytelling


Disney continues to celebrate its centenary, with the company unveiling a new video looking back at the last 100 years.

Disney to axe 7,000 jobs in US$5.5bn cost cutting plan following Q1 results


Disney is set to axe 7,000 people as part of a US$5.5bn cost cutting plan following its Q1 results. The operator’s parks however continue to thrive with the Parks, Experiences and Products division performing strongly

Two-hundred-year-old mummified cat among the exhibits as Scotland’s first witchcraft museum prepares to open in Edinburgh


A museum dedicated to sharing Scotland’s history with the occult will open in Edinburgh at the end of February

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

Dubai 100: Industry names among Dubai’s most powerful people


Three names involved in the tourism and attractions industries have been named in the Dubai 100 - a list representing the 100 most powerful people in the UAE city.

New research suggests cruising ‘more popular than ever’


‘More people than ever’ are exploring the possibility of booking a cruise, with new research showing a 10% increase in the number of people planning such a journey.

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

Fortune names Disney world’s most-admired media and entertainment company for 20th consecutive year


Disney has been recognised as the top-ranked media and entertainment company on

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

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

Kids in Museums launches ‘Future is Now’ youth summit to engage young people in the museum sector


Kids in Museums has launched a new initiative aimed at having young people discuss, learn and advocate for the future of the museum sector

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

Baby Trump set to fly again as Museum of London reinflates blimp


While Donald Trump’s hopes for re-election as US president may be faltering, the nappy-wearing depiction of him made famous during a UK protest in 2018 has had new life breathed into it, as the Museum of London has reinflated it.

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

First black history statues return to Brixton


Three statues thought to be the first sculptures depicting black British people on display in England are set to return to Brixton station later.

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

Grand Egyptian Museum at 100% completion as ticket prices announced


One of the world’s most anticipated museums will finally open this year after a more than 20-year development process with work now complete on Cairo’s Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM).

Ukrainian refugees on Glasgow cruise ship to be rehomed


Ukrainian refugees living on an Ambassador Cruise Line ship in Glasgow are to be rehomed as the Scottish government's contract with the vessel comes to an end.

Meteorite that crashed down to earth trebles local museum visitors


Visitor numbers at a museum in Winchcombe, UK, have trebled following the small attraction’s acquisition of a meteorite that crashed into a driveway of the market town in 2021.

SeaWorld’s Arctic Rescue aims will send climate change message when it opens later this year



Fourteen of 2023’s most anticipated museum openings


After a difficult few years the museum sector is showing promising signs of recovery with several exciting projects set to open this year. Here are 14 of 2023’s most anticipated museum openings

Tampa’s Florida Aquarium has largest attendance since opening in 1995


The Florida Aquarium just saw its best attendance since it opened at the edge of downtown Tampa 27 years ago.

Joyland to close after 50 years in operation


The original owners of a 50-year-old theme park in Lubbock, Texas, US, have announced that the park will not reopen following the collapse of a sale.

Police arrest three in Egypt after failed attempt to steal 10-tonne statue of Ramesses II


A plot to steal a 10-tonne ancient statue of Egyptian Pharaoh Ramesses II has been foiled after police arrested three men attempting to make away with the gigantic antiquity

Gibraltar’s Alameda Wildlife Park undergoes digital transformation


A zoo in Gibraltar has embarked on a new mission to modernise its technology in an attempt to better engage with visitors both digitally and in person.

Twelve of the biggest rollercoaster openings of 2023


It’s a new year with old records just waiting to be broken by some incredible new projects. Here are twelve blockbuster rollercoaster openings for the coming year

Ukrainian activist faces 12-year prison sentence for trying to remove Banksy mural


A Ukrainian activist who tried to take a Banksy work from Kyiv faces a 12-year prison sentence for an act he says was intended to support the work of the country’s army

Hey Disney!’: Amazon Alexa-powered digital voice assistant gets Disney facelift


A new version of Amazon’s Alexa digital voice assistant will come complete with Disney branding and the ability to work alongside the operator’s MagicBand+ technology

Visitor numbers surge as 7.8 million visit Louvre in 2022


Paris’ iconic Louvre Museum has revealed its visitor numbers for 2022, with 7.8 million people flocking to the iconic institution last year.

London’s National Portrait Gallery to reopen in 2023 after £35.5m renovation


London’s National Portrait Gallery (NPG) will reopen in June 2023 after a three-year closure.

Thousands gather at Stonehenge for winter solstice


Around 4,500 people gathered at Stonehenge for the annual winter solstice, with a further 100,000 watching the event online.

New £40m waterpark attraction proposed for UK


A huge new outdoor waterpark centred around a lagoon capable of producing 2m waves has been proposed for the county of Kent in the UK.

‘Boundless exploration’: Shanghai’s Neobio Museum opens to the public


The Neobio Museum is a brand new attraction in Shanghai, China, offering experiential STEM education to young people

New York’s Museum of Sex is expanding into Miami


The Museum of Sex is expanding, with the New York attraction announcing plans to open a new Miami location in the spring

World’s largest freestanding aquarium, home to 1,500 fish, explodes


Berlin’s AquaDom aquarium exploded in the early hours of the morning on December 15. It contained a million litres of water and more than 100 different fish species

All-in-one: How Semnox’s Venue Management system has transformed operations at Kokomo Joe’s


When it comes to all-in-one solutions for visitor attractions, Semnox’s Venue Management Software system has transformed operations at popular FEC Kokomo Joe’s. Here’s how the technology works

Paul Moreton succeeds Mark ‘Fish’ Fisher as chief development officer at Merlin


Merlin Entertainments has named Paul Moreton as its new chief development officer, effective from January 1, 2023.

PIF’s Seven reveals plans for Warner Bros Discovery edutainment attractions across Saudi Arabia


A world-first Discovery entertainment centre is coming to Saudi Arabia with more to follow in the coming years

‘A first of its kind experience’: SeaWorld’s Jonathan Smith on operator’s upcoming Pipeline surf coaster


The highly-anticipated Pipeline surf coaster is coming to SeaWorld Orlando this spring. SeaWorld’s vice president of rides and engineering, Jonathan Smith, spoke to Planet Attractions about the project

Spree Interactive picks up People’s Choice Award at MAPIC


Virtual reality specialist Spree has been named winner of the People’s Choice Award at this year’s MAPIC event, with the recognition adding to an ever-expanding list of industry awards and nominations picked up in 2022.

Convious named tech partner for West Midland Safari Park


Convious has signed a multi-year deal with West Midland Safari Park to supply its fully-integrated eCommerce and guest experience platform

Anti-racist action in culture, heritage and sport gets £4.5m boost from Welsh government


Culture, heritage and sport sites are set to receive £4.5m over the next three years to support actions in the Welsh Government’s Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan

Artificial intelligence will build Saudi Arabia’s The Line


The Line at NEOM - an upcoming vertical city that will house nine million people and feature numerous cultural attractions - is being built through AI, its developers say.

Saudi Arabia’s PIF to invest US$13.3bn in development of 21 integrated entertainment destinations across the kingdom


Saudi Entertainment Ventures - part of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund - will develop more than 150 new attractions in the kingdom across 21 integrated entertainment destinations

Merlin promotes Fiona Eastwood to oversee midway attractions and theme parks


Merlin executive Fiona Eastwood has been promoted to oversee the operator’s global portfolio of theme parks and midway attractions

Severn Lamb announces major acquisition of US company Trams International


World-leading visitor transportation specialist Severn Lamb has announced a major move in the acquisition of US company Trams International

92 museum directors sign open letter condemning climate action against ‘irreplaceable’ artworks


Directors from The Met, British Museum, Louvre and National Gallery have signed an open letter published by ICOM condemning the ‘risky endangerment’ of irreplaceable artworks in climate demonstrations

IAAPA Expo 2022: 36,000 gather for industry extravaganza


More than 36,000 people travelled to Orlando in November for the annual spectacular known as IAAPA Expo. Planet Attractions was in attendance

Industry pays tribute to legendary Alberto Zamperla following his death


The attractions industry and wider attractions community has paid tribute to the legendary Alberto Zamperla following his death last week aged 71

Bob Iger named CEO of Disney as Bob Chapek is ousted


In a shocking move, Disney has reappointed Bob Iger as CEO, effective immediately, as Bob Chapek is ousted after less than three years in the role

Red Raion to preview new title at IAAPA Expo


Red Raion will offer an exclusive preview of its latest title - ‘Around the World in 80 Days - Journey of Wonders’ - at this year’s IAAPA Expo

Shanghai Disney shuts doors as visitors are unable to leave park without negative Covid test


Visitors to Shanghai Disney were shut inside the park, with people not allowed to leave the popular theme park until they were able to show a negative Covid test.

WATCH: Exploring IAAPA Expo Europe with ParkSpill, Jack Silkstone and Kieran Adams


Following a special panel session featuring some of the UK’s top theme park content creators, Planet Attractions joined Jack Silkstone, Sean and Jo Dyer, and Kieran Adams as they explored this year’s IAAPA Expo Europe in London

Beijing’s Universal Resort shuts as Covid cases rise again in China


The Universal Resort theme park in Beijing has been closed due to Covid-19 prevention measures.

National Emergency Services Museum wins Family Friendly Museum Award 2022


The National Emergency Services Museum in Sheffield has been named the UK’s most family-friendly museum.

Storm Coaster officially named record breaker



Fifa World Cup boosts Gulf tourism as Qatar prepares for global spectacle


Flight bookings to Qatar and the UAE are currently 10 times higher than pre-pandemic levels ahead of this winter’s FIFA World Cup

WATCH: Meet Convious’s managing director for the UK & Ireland, Andy Povey


Convious showcased its digital engagement platform at this year’s IAAPA Expo Europe. The company’s managing director for the UK & Ireland, Andy Povey, tells Planet Attractions about everything the company has to offer

iPhone 14 Pro’s crash detection feature is calling emergency services when people ride on rollercoasters


The new iPhone 14 Pro has a fantastic feature that activates when it thinks a user has been in a crash. This however isn’t great for theme parks, with the phone reportedly automatically calling emergency services after riding on a rollercoaster.



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