Whether they are adrenalin-pumping, fun or educational attractions, offering full immersion in nature or history, permanent parks are today a key component of the Italian tourist offer. Having overcome the difficult period of the pandemic, in fact, the sector - represented by 230 facilities including wildlife, adventure, theme and water parks - is destined, according to estimates by the Italian Permanent Parks Association - Confindustria to exceed the threshold of 20 million Italian visitors and 1.5 million foreigners this season.

Permanent parks attract a large and varied public, made up of children, young people and adults, who can remember the spectacular experience during their visit with gadgets in the shops inside the facilities: carefully designed shops, often themed too, where you can find many different customised items - from hats to stuffed toys and mugs, from magnets to paper goods, from exclusive clothing lines to technological accessories - related to the attractions or to the iconic characters of the parks. Gadgets can be custom-branded by the park itself, with the logo and depiction of its mascots, or some famous character from the film or cartoon industry.

"The merchandising sector," explains Paolo Villa, vice-president of Leolandia - accounts for between 10 and 15 per cent of our turnover, with more than 1 million items sold each year. The most successful items in recent times are those containing the Leolandia brand (one of the best-selling items is currently the Leo mascot stuffed toy), which shows that in addition to the basic features of the item and its possible use, the role of being a souvenir is fundamental.

The emotional value of memory goes hand in hand with the intrinsic value of the item: "Our guests, both children and adults, look not only for originality but also for quality merchandise: they are generally more attentive to the details of gadgets and also appreciate higher-end products.

According to Carla Cavaliere, sustainability manager of Caribe Bay, one of the requirements that attracts the most interest from park gadget shoppers is sustainability: "In addition to items related to the Caribbean setting of the park, a line of everyday products (including items such as breakfast mugs and children's t-shirts) made from environmentally sustainable materials has brought us a lot of success in recent years.

Among the customisable green items ideal as souvenirs of the park experience, the pins from Deonet available in various shapes and sizes, are made of recycled plastic or recyclable metal. In addition, the environmentally friendly Tpu (thermoplastic polyurethane) flask by Maikii is foldable and extremely light, but at the same time sturdy, in four colours and customisable with single-colour screen printing. And what could be more 'green' than growing a new plant? At the end of their useful life, Ged Group wooden pencils allow you to do this, thanks to the plant seeds (such as sunflower, basil and daisy) they contain.