Fountains and urban tourism

Fountains and urban tourism

From a spectacular attraction to a memorable travel experience

4–1. When will the fountain become a tourist attraction?

Before arriving at a place, the tourist has an image of it in his mind. Photos, recommendations from others, maps and travel plans form this image. The real experience begins the moment you find your way and continues with entering, waiting, watching and exiting. A fountain can find a place in this experience when there is a plan for these stages.

The beauty and quality of the show is part of the charm of a fountain. Appropriate access, clear information, a suitable viewing place and ensuring the implementation of the program are also important in the decision to visit. A water feature that is attractive in pictures, but the tourist does not know the time of its display when visiting, does not fully use its tourism capacity.

In this book, three roles for fountains are suggested for tourism planning:

• Main attraction: the visitor goes to the place to see the fountain itself.

• Complementary attraction: a fountain increases the quality of visiting a complex such as a park, commercial center or historical site.

• Route station: Abenma is a place to stop and link between several attractions or urban activities.

These roles can be combined with each other. Determining the dominant role helps to decide the scale of the project, the duration of the display, the surrounding facilities and the maintenance schedule.

Figure note from the source manuscript

Figure 1–4: Expanded photograph of a GSO urban fountain in relation to identifiable city landmarks; The entry and presence of visitors can also be seen. Subtitle: "The tourism fountain is formed in relation to the place, route and experience of the visit."

4–2. Location in relation to the city

Before choosing the location of the fountain, it should be checked how the visitor will reach it and what activities he can do before or after watching.

Proximity to a walking trail, public transportation, park, museum, market, or dining complex can make it possible to combine visits. However, the distance on the map alone is not enough. The quality of the path, crossing the street, slope, lighting and the possibility of use by people with different abilities should also be checked.

For the tourist unfamiliar with the city, a clear entrance and guide signs are important. The place where passengers get off, the access of tourist groups and the return route should also be seen in the plan. If the show is performed at night, the transportation schedule and exit route status must be coordinated with the end of the show.

The placement of a fountain in an equestrian arena is another matter. Such a project may be suitable for viewing from a distance, but it needs an accessible viewing space to become a place to visit. Inviting people to stop at a place where it is not possible to attend properly is not compatible with the purpose of tourism.

The proposal of this book is that location studies, in addition to the construction area, also cover the path of the visitor from the nearest access nodes.

4–3. Designing the complete visit route

The fountain experience can be reviewed in five stages:

There must be a specific person responsible for each step. The design of the fountain may be the responsibility of a specialized contractor, but the notification, cleaning of the area, and coordination of transportation will be provided to other groups. This division of responsibility should be clarified before opening.

In large projects, a test visit with a group of users can reveal problems such as unclear entrance, limited visibility or crowding in the passageway. The findings of this visit should lead to the modification of the area and the exploitation plan.

Figure note from the source manuscript

Figure 2–4: A simplified map of a real or hypothetical site, indicating entrances, waiting areas, observation points, services, and exits. If it is hypothetical, the title "conceptual plan of the visit route" should be inserted.

4–4. Show program and trip planning capability

Tourists should be able to include a visit to the fountain in their schedule. For this purpose, the start time, approximate duration, performance status and suitable viewing location should be available.

The duration of the show should be coordinated with its content, the capacity of the space and the attendance pattern of the audience. A short show on a busy route has different needs than a main evening program in a tourist complex. The number of runs should also be determined by demand, operating cost, service opportunity and environmental conditions.

For example, the official Bellagio website publishes the schedule of fountain shows and explains the possibility of rescheduling or cancellation due to weather conditions. This method of informing allows the visitor to make a decision to visit. Source: Bellagio Fountains Official Website ^[20]

In a printed book, it is better not to fix the variable display hours in the main text. The address or QR code of the official page of the project can direct the visitor to the current information. On the same page, update date and suspension status should be visible.

It is suggested that the fountain program includes specific modes: daily effect, main display, occasion program and limited mode according to environmental conditions. The shutdown of the demonstration section should also be coordinated with the needs of water treatment and maintenance.

4–5. Local narrative and reason to remember

For a tourist destination, a fountain can tell a story about the place. The history of the city, native music, the river path, the gardens of the region or one of the cultural features can be the basis of the narrative.

The narrative must be experienced in the design. The choice of color, the rhythm of movement, the arrangement of scenes and the connection of the fountain with the surrounding architecture can express it. The short introduction text also helps the audience to understand the connection between the show and the place.

For example, in a hypothetical ten-minute scenario, the first two minutes could be devoted to gently introducing the theme, the middle five minutes expanding it with movement and variety, and the last three minutes reaching the climax and conclusion. This time division is a creative proposition and should be adjusted to the music, equipment and audience of the project.

For non-Persian-speaking tourists, the main information of the visit and brief introduction of the work can be presented in the language suitable for the target audience. Narrative design is better to be received through images, movement and music as much as possible.

The production of music, image and visual content should be done along with determining the rights of use and the responsibility of maintaining the original files; Because updating the display will be part of the project's life.

Figure note from the source manuscript

Figure 3–4: Three frames of the stages of a show, labeled "Start," "Expand," and "End." If the images are production, the title "conceptual scenario of the show" should be included and they should not be attributed to the implemented project.

4–6. Photographing and republishing the experience

Photo and video can play a role in introducing the fountain. To design this possibility, the image registration points must be checked from the beginning: is the fountain seen next to a landmark of the city? Can people stop without blocking the path? Does the background light distort the image?

The suggestion of this book is to anticipate several different angles: a general view to recognize the location, a medium view to show the presence of people in the frame, and a close-up view to show the details of water and light. Image quality should also be checked with common mobile phone cameras during a test visit.

A consistent project name and correct placement in official sources make it easier to find and identify images. Naming should be consistent with the identity of the place and used in the same signage, map and digital content.

Reposting the image is an indicator of being seen; To measure the effect of tourism, it should be checked whether this exposure has led to a visit. A short question to the visitor about how to get to know the fountain can help in this evaluation.

4–7. Some lessons from global examples

Dubai; Variety of viewing methods

The official Dubai Tourism website introduces the Boardwalk, a traditional boat ride on the lake and restaurants with a view, in addition to viewing the fountain from the surrounding area. This example shows that different experiences can be defined around a blue show. Source: Visit Dubai, introduction of Dubai Fountain ^[21]

The concept of design is to pay attention to the diversity of the viewing position. Each project must decide on public experiences and complementary services based on its own capacity, accessibility and operating model.

Bellagio; Public display in connection with the residential complex

On its official page, Bellagio advertises free public viewing of the fountain show, and on the same page, it also lists accommodation options with a view of the fountain. WET's cooperation in creating the fountain is also mentioned in the official introduction of the collection. Source: Bellagio, introducing the fountain and rooms with a view

The lesson of this example is the possibility of connecting a public attraction with surrounding services. This relationship by itself does not determine the amount of income or return on investment; Its financial analysis requires user data.

Kuala Lumpur; Renovation as an opportunity to improve attraction

In the description of the KLCC Park Fountain project, OASE explains that the initial request to replace the lighting developed into a more extensive renovation of the system to create a coordinated display of water, light and music. Source: OASE, KLCC Park Musical Fountain ^[22]

The practical impression for cities is that the existing fountain can also be the subject of an upgrade study. The decision to maintain or replace the components should be made after the technical evaluation of the structure, equipment and new project needs.

Barcelona; Linking attraction with resources and urban calendar

In the announcement of December 2024, the municipality of Barcelona described the cessation of decorative fountains from November 2022 due to drought restrictions and their renovation program, including the Montjuic fountain. The official announcement of the 2025 La Mercè celebration also mentions the presence of the renovated fountain in the celebration program. Source: Barcelona Fountains Renovation Program ^[23], Source: La Mercè 2025 Official Program ^[24]

This experience shows the importance of a plan to stop, renew and return to activity. The tourist attraction must be able to clearly inform the audience of resource limitations and program changes.

4–8. Connecting the fountain to the tourist route

In order to link the fountain with city tourism, it is necessary to check its connection with surrounding attractions. A tour can start from a market or museum, go to a show, and continue with a walk or a reception.

The following table is a hypothetical 90-minute pattern and is not related to a specific city or project:

The implementation of such a model requires checking the actual walking time, the activity hours of attractions and the needs of different groups. An adult-friendly route may require more stops for seniors or families with children.

Coordination with tourist guides, accommodation centers and information centers of the city can help introduce the program. Information provided to these groups should be sourced from an official and up-to-date source.

Figure note from the source manuscript

Figure 4-4: Map of a proposed tourist route with a fountain as one of the stops. The walking time and rest points should be included after checking the actual route; Otherwise, the map will be published with the title "hypothetical model".

4–9. Night tourism and attendance quality

Light and water show can be part of night visit program. For this, the quality of the entire area is important: clear path, good visibility, possibility to rest, required services and access to the return path.

The end of the show is an important time in exploitation design; Because part of the population moves at the same time. The place of exit, crossing the street and boarding points should be checked according to the conditions of the project. Attendance capacity should also be determined by expert assessment of space and crowd management.

In the vicinity of residential neighborhoods, the sound program and the time of execution should be compatible with the conditions of the neighborhood. Attractiveness for visitors and quality of life for residents are both present in the operating decision.

The venue must also be usable in between shows. The calm state of water and light, suitable seating and legibility of the path can be checked in the design of these times.

4–10. Measuring the real effect on tourism

To evaluate tourism, it is not enough to count the people present in the area. It should be clarified how many of them are city residents, overnight travelers or one-day visitors and what role the fountain played in their decision to visit.

The short questionnaire can cover the following: place of residence, overnight stay at the destination, how to get to know the fountain, reason for visiting, activities before and after the show, and satisfaction with the experience.

Enumerations must also have a clear definition. The audience of several shows may record the same person several times; Therefore, "frequency of attendance" and "number of unique people" should be distinguished.

Results should be reported along with time, sample size and method of collection. Opening day data or a specific celebration alone is not representative of annual performance. An increase in the stay or spending of tourists is also attributed to the fountain only with proper evidence.

4–11. Tourism file of GSO projects

To document GSO projects, it is suggested to prepare a visit experience file along with technical specifications. This file can include the role of the fountain in the destination, access routes, viewing points, show schedule, day and night images, and user evaluation results.

In the introduction photos, the connection between the fountain and the city and people's activities can be seen. Equipment images and technical details are placed in specialized sections of the book; This season's photos should illuminate the experience of attendance.

Each project also needs a specific person responsible for the display, maintenance and notification program. Delivery of equipment and opening is the beginning of the period in which the quality of the attraction is measured for the public.

Chapter 5 is dedicated to the visual identity of the city and examines how water form, architecture, color, light and local narrative can lead to a water feature design with a distinct and lasting character.