“An institution for dissemination of knowledge of natural or cultural heritage. Interpretation centres are a kind of new-style museum, often associated with visitor centers or ecomuseums, and located in connection to cultural, historic or natural sites. The presentation strategy is user friendly, interactive and often uses “scenographic exhibitions. Non-core jobs as conservation and research are services usually done by specialized, external entities”
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interpretation_centre Wikipedia, 19 August 2007).

“Open air museums are defined as scientific collections in the open air of various types of structures, which, as constructional and functional entities, illustrate settlement patterns, dwellings, economy and technology”.
Source: (AEOM [Association of European Open Air Museums] Constitution Article 1, Association of European Open Air Museums, Tagungsberichte 1966-1972, 109).

“A museum is a non-profit, permanent institution in the service of society and its development, open to the public, which acquires, conserves, researches, communicates and exhibits the tangible and intangible heritage of humanity and its environment for the purposes of education, study and enjoyment.”
(ICOM Statutes, approved in Vienna (Austria) – August 24, 2007. Art. 3, Section 1).

“Theme parks attempt to create an atmosphere of another place and time, and usually emphasize one dominant theme around which architecture, landscape, rides, shows, food services, costumed personnel, retailing are orchestrated (..). Most theme parks are isolated, self-contained units. Furthermore, it needs to be noted that most theme parks are developed, targeted and managed as private sector companies, and are commercial enterprises.”
(KEMPERMAN, A.D.A.M, 2000. Temporal aspects of theme park choice behavior, dissertation (PhD), Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, 14).

"Tourism is the temporary movement of persons to destinations outside their normal home and workplace for leisure, business and other purposes, the activities undertaken during the stay and the facilities created to cater for the needs of tourists."
(WTO 1989, www.unwto.org).

"A legally established body- corporate or unincorporated- whose income (including any surplus or profit) is used solely for the benefit of that body and its operation. The term "not-for-profit" has the same meaning."

ICOM Code of ethics for museums, ICOM 2006: www.icom.museum/ethics.html

An archaeological open air museum is a non-profit permanent institution with outdoor true to scale architectural reconstructions primarily based on archaeological sources. It holds collections of intangible heritage resources and provides an interpretation of how people lived and acted in the past; this is accomplished according to sound scientific methods for the purposes of education, study and enjoyment of its visitors.

An archaeological site is a place where human activity occurred, resulting in remains or traces which are or may be recorded by archaeological methods. An archaeological site museum is a museum, dedicated to presenting a specific archaeological site or its broader story. The site museum houses the archaeological site it refers to within its territory and is therefore fixed in location.

A life size architectural house model based on archaeology in a surrounding which is freely accessible, like a public park or forest. If access is by controlled entry but the facilities do not have all characteristics of an archaeological open air museum or educational centre, those reconstructions usually depend on a museum but are still in the category “reconstruction only”, as one of the modules of the parent organisation.

All facilities with a defined geographical location, not fitting on the other categories, like experimental open air laboratories, universities, yearly events and the such.