Theme Park Regionalization: A Comparison of Two Critical Cases

Abstract The growth ambitions of theme parks and zoos in recent years have sparked academic and policy attention regarding whether such amusement facilities should be viewed not just as isolated leisure objects, but also as contributors to regional economic development. Research on theme parks is receiving less attention from a geographical and planning perspective. This article, therefore, analyses how stakeholders approach externalities of theme park expansion, considering spatial and sociocultural effects besides economic growth. Through a case study of the Efteling (amusement park) and Wildlands Adventure Zoo (zoo) in the Netherlands, we describe and explain the diverse impacts of theme park expansions, illustrating how theme park regionalization leads to various manifestations of socio‐spatial externalities. The empirical analysis of the emerging regional governance regimes leads us to suggest ‘theme ports’ as an additional analytical type of theme park development.