Locum Destination Review - Issue 3

The journal of record for the global destination industry

Editorial

The cultural health of nations is a perennial focus for media debate. In the UK, Government policy aspirations for greater access to cultural facilities and social inclusion are being met in part by the appearance of new multi-dimensional arts projects such as the Lowry Centre and the New Art Gallery at Walsall, and reinforced by the institution of a new body for museums, archives and libraries: Resource. In this issue we profile the launch and ongoing work of Resource and talk to its Chairman, Lord Evans. We hear in detail from Lord Evans about the founding principles of Resource, his priorities for the organisation, and his long-term vision for the improvement of access to culture at local, regional and national levels.

The millennium year witnessed positive and negative extremes for the destination industry, from the very public failures of certain Lottery-funded initiatives when projected visitors failed to materialise, to the opening of major new developments such as Tate Modern and the London Eye, showing what can be achieved through clarity of vision, cutting-edge design and long-term business planning. In this issue, we take a close-up look at the cluster of major cultural and urban regeneration projects underway on London’s South Bank. Linking into this, we hear about the extensive regeneration measures being planned for the Thames Gateway region.

Many cities are aspiring to regenerate themselves culturally, but not all projects to achieve this have been successful. We look at the reasons behind the failure of Cardiff’s Centre for Visual Arts and the contrasting good performance of The Lighthouse in Glasgow. We also look at the success of the integrated, brand-led approach to cultural and economic renewal taking place in Hull. These case studies illustrate the importance of sensitivity to a city’s history and character in the regeneration planning process.

Overseas, Sydney staged the most memorable Olympic Games ever, captivating a world audience of billions. Now that the fireworks are over and the dust has had time to settle, what long-term economic effects will the Games have on Sydney, and how will it turn its Olympic experience into a basis for sustainable growth? Richard Tibbott compares Sydney’s performance with that of previous Olympic cities and outlines the challenges it now faces. Also on a sporting note, we talk to ex-Formula 1 driver Jonathan Palmer about his development of a standard-setting corporate hospitality destination offering the definitive motorsport experience: becoming a racing driver for the day.

We hear from a cross-section of leading designers engaged in futuristic destination projects, ranging from space-age skyscrapers to floating cities, about the key issues driving design at the start of the new millennium.

How could we leave 2000 without commenting on the biggest unplanned national event of the year: the fuel crisis? Jonathan Bignell looks back at the weeks that shook the UK, and ponders the extent to which the images of chaos beamed around the world damaged the country’s reputation as a leading destination for inward investment.

Owen Burdekin
Editor