‘Big metal rollercoasters beat AI’: Legoland owner’s boss on the thrill of theme parks in a tech world

Fiona Eastwood says real-life experiences that bring people together are vital in the battle for attention in the digital era

Artificial intelligence is in the process of upending the business models of companies all over the world, but when it comes to the $100bn (73bn) global theme park business the thrill of big metal" rollercoasters is still the biggest draw.

Fiona Eastwood, the boss of the sector's second biggest operator, Merlin Entertainments, says that in a world dominated by battles over screen time it is real-life experiences that provide families with an antidote to phones and digital technology".