IAAPA, the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, inducted three new industry names into its Hall of Fame during this week’s Asian Attractions Expo (AAE) in Hong Kong.
It’s more usual for IAAPA to make Hall of Fame announcements during its annual Attractions Expo in Orlando, but the people honoured during the AAE opening ceremony on June 6 are all ‘legends’ from the Asia-Pacific region. Here’s who tey are and why they were chosen:
An avid scuba diver, archeologist and lover of marine exploration, Kelly Tarlton (1937-1985) – pictured above – founded Underwater World in Auckland, New Zealand. Tarlton imagined an aquarium that would provide the opportunity for guests to be underwater without actually getting IN the water. He used heavy-duty clear acrylic sheets, moulding them with heat into a tunnel that would provide a passage through the tank and added a moving walkway, adapted from airline baggage delivery belts, to move visitors through the tunnel. Today this underwater experience is enjoyed in hundreds of aquariums and marine exhibits around the world.
Masatomo Takahashi
Masatomo Takahashi (1913-2000) is the man responsible for bringing the magic of Disneyland to the people of Japan. He rose through the corporate ranks of leadership at the Oriental Land Company, eventually becoming president and CEO in 1978. His leadership and unwavering perseverance guided the multi-million dollar Tokyo Disneyland to fruition in 1983. In the late 1990s, he presented a proposal for Tokyo DisneySea. Inspired by the myths and legends of the ocean, it opened in 2001.
Bernard Harrison of Wildlife Reserves Singapore has created a legacy of innovation in the zoological world over four decades with his creativity and enthusiasm. At the age of 29, he accepted the position of CEO for the Singapore Zoo, becoming one of the youngest zoo directors ever. In 1994, he created the Night Safari, a groundbreaking concept that has been hailed as one of the most significant paradigm shifts in zoological history.
Bernard Harrison
The IAAPA Hall of Fame honours individuals whose work and accomplishments have made significant and lasting contributions to the worldwide attractions industry. Existing Hall of Famers can be seen here.
In this, IAAPA’s 100th anniversary year, further inductees are expected to be announced at September’s Euro Attractions Show in Amsterdam and IAAPA Attractions Expo, which returns to Orlando in November. This year’s Asian Attractions Expo took place at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre from June 5 to 8.
