The 2008 Season: a good vintage
Par Mylène Girardeau | 19 Dec 2008 | 17H23
Despite the economic and financial crisis, amusement parks show good results.
Attendance, average shopping basket and revenues are up: It's the emerging trend everywhere in the world for this 2008 season. Parks, whether American, European or even French, show off somewhat of a smile.
Albeit mostly unfavorable adverse economic trends and weather conditions weighing heavily on parks already in trouble, provoking, among other things, a decline in impulse buying and working class attendance, many sites have posted better results than they expected.
According to a study amongst its members by SNELAC (French recreational sites union), almost half the parks have had increased attendance (see chart). And among the various site categories, wilderness parks fare best: more than 80% remain stable or show progression. As for edutainment or cultural parks, they are slightly behind.
Vulcania announces exceptional results with 313,000 visitors, i.e. attendance is up 20%. For Futuroscope it is a 8% average increase in its shopping baskets. Same trend in Belgium with attendance up 5% at CDA parks (Walibi Aqualibi, Bellewaerde).
The recipe for success seems to remain unchanged: value/money ratios improvement
i.e. sites that have renewed their appeal this year, with new attractions, new shows, beautification, increased number of events, promotion techniques development (family formulas, catering packs, online sales), tourism and business partnerships.
To finish one should not neglect the counter effect of the crisis. This is reflected partly by increased consumption of local entertainment, with families scaling back their aspirations with respect to limited vacation time, distance and cost. Furthermore, the enhanced need for entertainment during gloomy periods underpins recreational site attendance. Who would have guessed crisis sometimes have up-sides...
Attendance, average shopping basket and revenues are up: It's the emerging trend everywhere in the world for this 2008 season. Parks, whether American, European or even French, show off somewhat of a smile.Albeit mostly unfavorable adverse economic trends and weather conditions weighing heavily on parks already in trouble, provoking, among other things, a decline in impulse buying and working class attendance, many sites have posted better results than they expected.
According to a study amongst its members by SNELAC (French recreational sites union), almost half the parks have had increased attendance (see chart). And among the various site categories, wilderness parks fare best: more than 80% remain stable or show progression. As for edutainment or cultural parks, they are slightly behind.
Vulcania announces exceptional results with 313,000 visitors, i.e. attendance is up 20%. For Futuroscope it is a 8% average increase in its shopping baskets. Same trend in Belgium with attendance up 5% at CDA parks (Walibi Aqualibi, Bellewaerde).
The recipe for success seems to remain unchanged: value/money ratios improvement
i.e. sites that have renewed their appeal this year, with new attractions, new shows, beautification, increased number of events, promotion techniques development (family formulas, catering packs, online sales), tourism and business partnerships.
To finish one should not neglect the counter effect of the crisis. This is reflected partly by increased consumption of local entertainment, with families scaling back their aspirations with respect to limited vacation time, distance and cost. Furthermore, the enhanced need for entertainment during gloomy periods underpins recreational site attendance. Who would have guessed crisis sometimes have up-sides...
Attendance trends for French parks from 2007 to 2008
Source : Study by SNELAC among 80 of its member leisure sites, between August 20th and September 2nd 2008.
The balance sheet is relative because the study was conducted before the end of the season and does not include figures from Disneyland Paris and parks in the CDA. Note that a decline in attendance does not necessarily mean a decrease in turnover.
Source : Study by SNELAC among 80 of its member leisure sites, between August 20th and September 2nd 2008.
The balance sheet is relative because the study was conducted before the end of the season and does not include figures from Disneyland Paris and parks in the CDA. Note that a decline in attendance does not necessarily mean a decrease in turnover.
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