The Role of Visitors Attractions to the Success of the South Bank - Assignment Example

? South Bank Affiliation with more information about affiliation, research grants, conflict of interest and how to contact South Bank Critically evaluate the role of visitor’s attractions to the success of the South Bank in London and put forward recommendations for enhancing their contribution. South Bank, situated in London, is an extensive region that is the one spot place, which showcases some of the greatest cultural iconic attractions of the city including arts, theatres, and design-led places. This particular region is bustling with a lot of activities to see and take part in such as free music, events, debates, film, dance, exhibitions, theatre, festivals and all kinds of family fun. Millions of people from all over the world flock to the city every year to enjoy these world- renowned attractions and sights. South Bank of the River Thames in London has numerous of the best recognized attractions and is a large place to spend at least a day of holiday. The South Bank lies near the River Thames, which stretches under the Tower Bridge, Westminster Bridge and 212 other bridges. It was enthused by the 1951 Festival of Britain subsequent to post-war austerity and to commemorate the anniversary of the 1851 Great Exhibition held by Queen Victoria. South bank is the biggest single-run arts centre in the earth and consists of Royal Festival Hall, The London Eye, The National Theatre, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, Gabriel's Wharf and Tate Modern Art Gallery. (Bell, 2010). Visitor attractions symbolize a complex division of the tourism business and are the catalytic focus for the growth of tourism services and infrastructure. As this area develops, there are still numerous queries to be answered and problems to be recognized such as what visitor attractions really are, what forces drive their growth, who visits them and why, how they are managed and funded, and what the various day-to-day challenges are regarding their marketing and management. “A visitor attraction is a valuable addition to a holiday experience in an area. It can provide the vital component which is ‘something-to-do’ in the locality” (Visitor Attraction n.d para.1). With a cultural and artistic melting pot, growing day by day, glittering riverside sights at night, South Bank is one of London’s most exciting and vibrant destinations. Best recognized for being in the vicinity of so many of London’s major and prime attractions, South Bank is also just opposite to the Houses of Parliament, “a mere stroll from Covent Garden and the Tate Modern and home to the London Eye, the Imperial War museum and the renowned Royal Festival Hall” (South Bank, 2011, para.1). The South bank Centre includes the Hayward art gallery and also the Queen Elizabeth Hall. Part of the achievement and success of the region have attributed to the high levels of access of the public transport. There are several major railway terminals near and on both sides of the river, which include Charing Cross, Waterloo, Blackfriars and the London Underground scheme, from west to east, at Waterloo, Westminster, Blackfriars, Embankment and Southwark. (South Bank, City Hall- London 2012). Critically evaluate how these attractions have contributed to the success of the South Bank. The designing concept behind the South Bank is bringing together various buildings, connected by general denominator of their idea: culture. Cultural tourists desire to enjoy exhibitions and concerts, to test local food and study about local ethnicity, to enjoy the ambiance of a place. “London’s South Bank hosts some of the world’s premier cultural facilities and has long been frequented by many kinds of people: local residents, workers, tourists and commuters, as well as music, theatre and museum goers” (Waterloo: South Bank, 2012, para.1). South Bank cites once more advantage of its location, which is their main factor of success, in relation to Covent Garden and London’s Houses of Parliament, by the appeal that city iconic images propose; the possibility to have an attractive cultural experience as it mentions the London’s cultural heart, as theatres, cinemas. galleries and venues are beneficially located one next to each other; the green open spaces accessible by using ideas as magical walks and summer festival, it appeals to the city-residents wishes of leisure activity; and finally, one can access the opportunity to purchase whatever one wants, and expend more money in numerous restaurants & bars accessible across the entire area. “The regeneration of the South Bank area and success of Millennium Mile and Open House promotions demonstrate public interest in architecture and taking a closer look at famous and new landmarks” (Cultural Tourism n.d, pg.5). The South Bank London is “an inspiring place, home to the UK’s finest theatres, art galleries and performing arts venues” (Study Law in London With Kaplan Law School, 2012 Para.9). South Bank is tempting to make the same utilization of their space. This inclination of accumulation of different places into a better alliance of cultural location, retail opportunities and leisure spaces is far away from being a South Bank owned creation. The planners, who recognized the requirement to ensure benefits for both the potential shopper and urban dweller, spent a prolonged time as possible within the prearranged space. It ties together numerous ideas. It provides a sense of centrality in the map. The present website of the South Bank is greeted by the following text: “Welcome to Southbank Centre: Find our work inside and outside three iconic buildings, Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and The Hayward. Come for the breathing space, to walk without traffic, shop, eat and drink, and enjoy the river and the skyline” (Royal festival Hall, 2012, para.1). The above message before now utilizes the application of words like, iconic to lure in any one who visits the website. “It’s a place where visitors can enjoy a relaxing stroll, soak up the atmosphere and come across unexpected events and experiences along the way” (South Bank London Travel Trade Planner 2011, pg.4). The other success factors of Southbank Centre includes offering by an assortment of restaurants onsite to outfit any mood together with fiery Mexican at Las Iguanas, dim sum at Ping Pong, seasonal dishes at Riverside Terrace Cafe and the family-friendly dining at Giraffe. As per the customer’s needs, Skylon restaurant provides panoramic views of Thames and a contemporary European menu. Concrete at Hayward Gallery provides lunch and light munchies during the daytime, and transforms itself into a late-night bar contributing cocktails, wines etc when the night falls. Recommendations: Following are the suggested recommendations that can contribute auxiliary to the success of the South Bank. “South Bank’s economy is underpinned by Waterloo Station, and it is the transport hub around Waterloo combined with the neighborhood’s central London location which makes the area so suitable for further economic growth” (Under Pressure and on the Edge London’s South Bank: A Manifesto for Action South Bank Partnership, 2006 pg.19). To integrate the different client groups by offering new shortest routes between the Hungerford Bridge, River-walk and Waterloo International Station. To integrate new attractors in the locations, to take benefit of flows passing and to add two innovative noteworthy public spaces to perform as orientation points and attractors. To adopt further green policies to reduce carbon emissions from main business areas To find enduring solutions to diminish the effect of antisocial activities and entrenchment Take advantage of the opportunities offered by Queen's Diamond Jubilee and 2012 London Olympic and Paralympics Games To concentrate more on cultural tourism as visitors demands more for an real experience. Reference List Cultural Tourism (n.d). Visit Britain. Retrieved from Bell, T. (2010). Top Tourist Attraction on London’s South Bank. Icicilambord.com. Retrieved from < http://suite101.com/article/top-tourist-attractions-on-londons-south-bank-a276004 > Royal festival Hall (2012). Xmarks. Retrieved from Study Law in London With Kaplan Law School (2012). Kaplan Law School. Retrieved from < http://kaplan-law-school.kaplan.co.uk/London-Campus/Student-city/Pages/default.aspx> South Bank, (2011). VIATOR. Retrieved from < http://www.viator.com/London-attractions/South-Bank/d737-a6162> South Bank, City Hall- London (2012). Postcards From London. Retrieved from < http://www.thegirlinthecafe.com/photoblog/170-south-bank-city-hall-london> South Bank London Travel Trade Planner (2011). Southbank London.com. Retrieved from Visitor Attraction. (n.d). eagase.com. Retrieved from Under Pressure and on the Edge London’s South Bank: A Manifesto for Action South Bank Partnership (2006). South bank Partnership. Retrieved from Waterloo: South Bank (2012). Space Syntax. Retrieved from Read More