museums and tourism
DESCRIPTION
Paper give at INTERCOM Conference, Rotorua, November 2008TRANSCRIPT
Australia and the world: International tourists and museum visitor studies
Dr Lynda Kelly, Australian Museum
TitleWhy visit museums?
• New experiences
• Worthwhile leisure
• Learning
• Entertainment
27%
26%
8%
3%
14%
4%
4%
7%
1%
3%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
North America
UK
Germany
France
other Europe
NZ
Japan
other Asia
China
Africa/South America/Pacific
10%
25%
27%
36%
16%
14%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Powerhouse Museum
AGNSW
Taronga Zoo
Sydney Aquarium
Maritime Museum
MCA
Title2006 research study
• Desk research
• Onsite survey (n=153)
• CBD survey (n=102)
• Executive interviews: 15 tourism operators/intermediaries
TitleInternatoinla tourists
• Increased competition in Sydney• Working holiday-makers largest potential – stay
longer• Range of venues
– AM visitors visit other cultural attractions– CBD outdoor & icon destinations
• Want to experience the ‘unique’ Sydney / Australia
• Seeking adult-targeted experiences• Indigenous culture of most interest to AM visitors
TitleTourist operators
• Worldly travellers:– have seen the ‘icon’ museums– high expectations
• Under pressure:– want value for time– to indulge & relax
• Seek ‘authenticity’:– live experiences, sensory, natural settings,
local personalities
TitleAustralia’s ‘destination identity’
• Drinking & mateship
• Sport
• Beach & endless summer
• Iconic fauna (koalas, kangaroos)
• Dangerous & deadly fauna
• Convict history
• Indigenous
TitleCultural tourism
• Perceptions of Sydney:– outdoors– open air– freedom– endless summer– icons– shopping
We’re Paul and Carolyn, 54 and 38, both professionals living and working in London. We consider ourselves to be worldly travellers, having recently done the Inca trail in Peru and last year attending a conference in Budapest where Paul was a keynote speaker. Although Paul has older children from a former relationship we don’t travel with them, preferring to stay in quality hotels or with our many colleagues and friends living across Australia.
We have been to Sydney several times now and just love the outdoors, beaches, shopping and café lifestyle. We always visit the cultural attractions, with art galleries being particular favourites. We have visited most of the icon museums of the world, and were very impressed with the Smithsonian, New York Natural History Museum and a quaint hunting museum we visited in Budapest.
When we go to museums we like to do a morning or afternoon tour which we book on the day, and a cost of around $15 doesn’t faze us. We love visiting museum shops and always buy a book as a reminder of our experience, souvenirs for Paul's boys and presents for our hosts.
We think the Australian Museum’s Aboriginal display is fantastic. Initially, we were not interested in social justice (preferring to find out what is a real and fake ‘artefact’ to buy later), but we were moved by the contemporary stories of survival and hope, we never knew this happened in Australia.
Although we have a general plan of action before we leave London, we prefer to be a bit spontaneous and usually go by the recommendations in the local guide books and Lonely Planet of course!
• All audiences want …– respect for them as individuals– to exercise choice– a welcoming atmosphere from trained, aware,
friendly, knowledgeable staff– to see themselves reflected in programs,
exhibitions, collections & staffing– active & varied learning experiences
• individual & group-based– involvement– a contemporary experience:
• communication/interpretation• relevant & current content/issues
http.//www.australianmuseum.net.au/amarc/
http://amarclk.blogspot.com/