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Showing posts with label south Dakota. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Theme parks - are they safe? What's old and new? Example, Switzerland, and USA

  The Joys of Researching Holidays And Business Trips Using AI

 I am finding Ask Gemini a miracle, a blessing, a time saver, for researching everything from calming niggling worries about safety to finding venues for attractions. I can also check on transport. Up pop things you never thought of asking about possible trips.

 I usually have at least one holiday booked for the following year. The more I know in advance, the more I feel confident and in control.

I am planning a trip with a hiking group to German-speaking Switzerland. It is called DeutscherSchweiz.

My queries are, what are the attractions we can visit on the way there, or home, or on free days? But I also wonder, how safe are all those slides and big dippers (American English uses a different word, roller coaster). 

Planning Precautions - Worries About A Holiday Including Attractions and Theme Parks

1 Theme Park Safety

Overall Safety Rate: Serious accidents on fixed-site amusement park rides are statistically extremely rare. According to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), the probability of being seriously injured on a fixed ride in a major theme park is approximately 1 in 15.5 million to 16 million rides taken.   

Minor Injuries & Incidents: Less severe incidents occur at a rate of roughly 1 to 4 injuries per million visitors. These primarily consist of soft tissue strains, trips or falls in queues, motion sickness, or minor bumps.   


2 Venues Closures

What are the chances that the park will be closed? 


Ride & Venue Downtime: 
Temporary closures of individual attractions or rides within a park are relatively common, often caused by automated safety sensor trips, scheduled maintenance, or inclement weather (such as lightning or high winds). However, total closures of entire theme parks are rare and typically occur only during severe weather events, major national emergencies, or large-scale private rentals.


Transport Disruptions to Parks: 
Disruptions on transit routes leading to theme parks (such as public train lines, shuttles, or major highways) occur with typical public transit frequency, such as routine engineering works, track maintenance, signal failures, or traffic congestion during peak holiday periods.

If I am not in the mood or too tired for thrill rides, are there any other things to see, such as dance shows, or animals, or information boards and museums for wet or overcast days? 

Theme Parks In Switzerland

What theme parks or attractions are in German-speaking Switzerland?

Conny-Land (Lipperswil, Thurgau): 
The largest amusement park in Switzerland. It features roller coasters (including the Cobra shuttle coaster), drop towers, live sea lion shows, and water rides aimed at kids and teens.

Copyright Free Maps and Materials

Open Street Map gives a copyright free map.

What's Old and Traditional?

Heritage sites are well documented on the internet, and marked on maps. Wikipedia articles include the history and heritage of sites and surrounding areas.

 New In Travel & Attractions? Exhibitions

IAAPA - ARRACTIONS
New attractions and forthcoming attractions are publicised at trade events for the travel industry such as IAAPA, The Global Association for the Attractions Industry, which has a show at Expo Europe 2026 this September. Exhibitions such as this one and associated events are reported in the UK's local and national papers in the news and travel sections, as well as trade papers. Plus, of course my blog here. Other events take place in Orlando, Abu Dhabi, and Oska.

WTM
Then in November every year the World Travel Market takes place in London, with lots of singing and dancing and photo opportunities appealing the travel agents and everybody in hospitality.  

Singapore

I have also attended travel shows in Singapore where I lived 1993-2024. The shows are mostly aimed at those in the travel trade, who occasionally invite along people who spend a lot on travel. The big spenders are offered free gifts such as sets of suitcases by credit card companies for those who book single or group trips whilst at the show. 
ITB Asia

If travel is a subsidiary part of your business, such as a wedding planner, hiking tours organizer, organize school trips or scouts trips, wine society trips, as your involvement in organizing travel grows, you might find a travel trade show useful, even if you only get on their mailing list and attend for one afternoon.  

There are also businesses which expand into attractions, stately homes and hotels adding playgrounds and events. 

Real Life can be as surprising and memorable as fictional Sherlock Holmes and his conflict with Moriarty.

Longleat, England, UK
In the UK a famous example was controversial Longleat, which added zoo animals. I recall seeing the infamous erotic paintings by the Lord, buying the book of his paintings. I  met him and one of his 'wifelets' at a PR do in London. She complained to me that the roaring of the lions kept her awake at night. In addition to the safari, it nowadays also has a maze, rides, and a railway.

Jungle Jim's, USA
A famous example in the USA is Jungle Jim's in Ohio, which started as a food store but added trains and also has other attractions and food and drink events.  

Wall Drug, USA
Another famous example was Wall Drug store in South Dakota which I visited. They offered free iced water to visitors on the highway to Mount Rushmore.

Sources On Switzerland and Safety on Theme Parks And General Safety Worldwide

Up to date information on traffic
Touring Club of Switzerland traffic map
Swiss Government traffic portal

Attractions And Museum
UK
USA

Travel shows
https://www.itb-asia.com/

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