Visitor attractions

In a nutshell

There are nearly 6,500 visitor attractions in the UK, including museums, galleries, gardens, historic properties, country parks, steam railways and theme parks. Visitor attractions are a key part of the tourism industry; 45 million people visited the top twenty major paid attractions in 2003. Jobs are available for full-time, part-time and seasonal staff, and roles vary from operations manager to human resources co-ordinator. Depending on the type of operation, there may also be a number of unpaid volunteers. The size of the attraction will also determine your responsibilities: you could be in charge of the whole site at a small venue whereas at a large theme park you would probably only be responsible for one discrete part of the process.

Working environment

Your working environment will vary a great deal depending on the type and size of the attraction. You can choose between a more hands-on role (for instance, working to maintain sites) or an office job, depending on your skills and preferences.

Getting in and getting on

Motivation and passion are important in this area of work and will make you an attractive prospect to potential employers. You’ll also need strong communication and interpersonal skills to work successfully with colleagues, temporary staff and volunteers as well as dealing with the thousands of visitors you’ll come into contact with. Make sure you mention any relevant work experience in your applications to demonstrate your commitment to the sector.