Museums, Historical Sites, Zoos, and Parks Market Report 2026

The museums, historical sites, zoos, and parks market size has grown steadily in recent years. It will grow from $95.4 billion in 2025 to $99.69 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.5%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of cultural tourism activities, government support for heritage conservation, growth in public recreational infrastructure, rising educational outreach programs, increasing urban population leisure demand.

The museums, historical sites, zoos, and parks market size is expected to see steady growth in the next few years. It will grow to $120.8 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.9%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing investments in smart tourism infrastructure, rising demand for immersive educational experiences, expansion of eco-tourism initiatives, growing use of digital engagement platforms, increasing focus on conservation funding models. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of interactive visitor experiences, rising integration of digital exhibits and displays, growing focus on sustainable facility management, expansion of educational and cultural programming, enhanced emphasis on visitor engagement strategies.

The increase in international tourism is expected to support the growth of the museums, historical sites, zoos, and parks market in the coming years. International tourism refers to traveling outside one’s usual place of residence for up to a year for leisure, business, or other purposes. This type of tourism is rising as advances in transportation and connectivity make travel faster, more affordable, and more accessible to people worldwide. Museums, historical sites, zoos, and parks play an important role in this trend by drawing visitors from around the globe and offering opportunities to learn about history, experience diverse cultures, and explore conservation and wildlife. For example, in March 2025, Hotel Online - a Kenya-based hospitality industry source - reported that total international visitor arrivals in 2024 rose to approximately 72,390,321, representing a 9.1% increase compared with 2023. Therefore, the expansion of international tourism is helping drive the museums, historical sites, zoos, and parks market.

Organizations in the museums, historical sites, zoos, and parks market are increasingly developing innovative attractions such as augmented reality (AR) tracking experiences that layer interactive digital content onto real-world exhibits to boost visitor engagement and create immersive learning opportunities. AR tracking technology enables users to interact with their surroundings through virtual overlays that provide real-time information, simulations, and educational games. For instance, in August 2025, RWS Global partnered with the North Carolina Zoo to introduce a breakthrough AR tracking platform as part of its Asia expansion plans. The system allows visitors to track animals in real time using mobile devices or AR-enabled headsets, while displaying species information, habitat models, and conservation messages over the exhibits themselves. It also features interactive games, tailored educational content based on visitor location, and gamified challenges to reinforce learning. By combining AR visualization, live tracking, and interactive modules, this technology sets a new benchmark for immersive wildlife and zoo experiences.

In October 2025, Hammons Holdings Pty Ltd, an Australia-based operator of tourism and leisure attractions, acquired Sydney Zoo Pty Ltd for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition is intended to expand Hammons Holdings’ portfolio of wildlife and experiential tourism destinations, strengthen its position in the Australian leisure market, and enhance visitor engagement through integrated conservation and education initiatives. Sydney Zoo Pty Ltd is an Australia-based zoological park that provides wildlife exhibits, conservation programs, and interactive learning experiences for both local and international visitors.

Major companies operating in the museums, historical sites, zoos, and parks market are The Metropolitan Museum of Art, National Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution Washington D.C., Musei Vaticani, The American Museum of Natural History, Museum of Science and Industry, Georgia Aquarium, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, The Art Institute of Chicago, Woodland Park Zoo, Zoological Garden of Berlin, Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), The Museum of Modern Art, Museo Nacional del Prado, British Museum, The State Hermitage Museum, National Museum of China, Musée du Louvre, National Museum of Natural History, National Air and Space Museum, Tokyo National Museum, Musée d'Orsay, Rijksmuseum, National Palace Museum, National Museum of the Philippines, Shanghai Museum, National Museum of Korea, Smithsonian's National Zoo, ZooParc de Beauval, Schloss Schönbrunn.

North America was the largest region in the museums, historical sites, zoos, and parks market in 2025. Eastern Europe is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the museums, historical sites, zoos, and parks market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the museums, historical sites, zoos, and parks market report are China, India, Japan, Australia, Indonesia, South Korea, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, New Zealand, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Ukraine, USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Iran, Turkey, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa.

The museums, historical sites, zoos, and parks services market includes revenues earned by entities by operating areas or sites that conserve and exhibit objects of historical value such as archaeological sites, museums, live plant and animal life displays, and natural areas or settings. Revenues in this market include entry fees to museums, historical sites, zoos, and parks. The market also includes commissions or rental fees from shops or online cafes located in museums, historical sites, zoos, and parks. It also does not include revenue earned from trading artifacts or animals between entities. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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