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European Theme Park Attendance Report 2018

AT86

TS Member
Wasn’t sure where to put this, sorry if it doesn’t deserve it’s own thread.

This new article has been published regarding theme park attendance in 2018:

https://blooloop.com/european-theme-park-attendance-2018/

Interesting highlights:

- Disneyland Park reached over 10 million visitors

- Legoland still the highest attended U.K. park at 2.55 million (up 2%)

- Alton Towers visitors up 5% to 2.1 million

- Thorpe Park visitors up 5.6% to 1.9 million

- Gardaland up 11.5% to 2.9 million (but they had a poor 2017 making this increase seem larger)

- Efteling up 3.3% to 5.3 million

Not sure how reliable the figures are, good news about Alton Towers but perhaps not as much of an increase as I would have expected. Also surprised at Thorpe Park since all other info seems to suggest they aren’t doing so well.
 
Delighted to see Paris' Magic Kingdom park go back to over 10 Million guests but also thrilled to see Parque Warner with a big increase too. Hopefully it motivates them to build a new coaster there.
 
Interesting! Nice to see Thorpe increasing in attendance again, but I must admit I was expecting a larger increase from Alton. An increase is still an increase, though! Overall, it seems like it's been a good year in Europe!
 
Liseberg's figures down with the addition of Valkyria and their first proper stab at a Halloween event doesn't seem right.
 
I was buying Toverland tickets yesterday and noticed in their news column that they had a 19% increase for 2018. Hopefully one more big addition and they'll get over a million visitors for the first time.
 
This is encouraging for the entire industry as a whole across Europe. I would like to think that Wickerman bought in nearly 100,000 extra guests in comparison to 2017, but I am not sure if Thorpe Park managed to do the same with such a poor new addition.

I think it would be down to;
  • Amazing weather pretty much for the entirety of June, July & August, as well as a mild October.
  • Cheap annual passes starting at only £55.00. Alton Towers, Chessington, Legoland & Thorpe Park are all using this tactic, and I do think somewhat that it is such an attractive offer that it does bring in return visitors.
  • A very stable Annual Pass base which is helping keep stable numbers.
If you look at Merlin as a whole, I think it would interesting to see the breakdown of AP holders vs the general paying public. Overall I think it is good news, but this year maybe a very different story, with the main investment of the year being a Vekoma Madhouse, and literally nothing else.
 
Merlin is a nightmare but if you look at the rides Efteling, Walibi Holland, Energylandia, Parc Asterix and Disney Studios are throwing in then Europe looks a strong place for new attractions.

Merlin is on the cusp of being blown away by some amazing rides across Europe despite the additions of Wickerman and Colossus at Heide.

I hope they have something up their sleeve other than charging for midway attractions, otherwise they'll be 5th behind Disney.

Can't wait for the Bear Grills the upcharge to replace NST.:rolleyes:
 
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Really? I thought it only opened this year. My mistake.

What an odd time to open a major coaster.

They had quite a setback during construction with the first drop tunnel, hence the slightly later opening than they'd anticipated.
 
Well, according to the Churnet Valley masterplan Towers believed that 3.3 million was possible by now. To be fair, footfall is not what is of interest it should be average spend - which I am sure is inline with expectations.

There is potential to increase in overnight accommodation at the site by promoting increased use of the existing hotels, implementing the extant planning permission for the extension to the Alton Towers Hotel, and subject to demand, developing new accommodation. The latter is likely to be in the form of lodge/ campsite developments and new hotel developments. Based on modelling by Alton Towers Resort, the level of investment would increase admissions to approximately 3.3 million (from an average of 2.6 million over the last 10 years) by 2019, increase economic impact and allow for significant investment in heritage assets. Overnight stays on site would increase over the period off-setting increased admissions due to reduction in individual journeys which will have benefits to local traffic movements. As a result of increased visitor numbers, the resort could make investments in local traffic management and other transportation initiatives including continued investigation of multi-modal access.

I love the focus of the plan for AT being transport - they have done sod all to increase public transport/ transport options!

In terms of future investment, I would pretty much guarantee that it has been minimised until Merlin know what is happening with Brexit. If it happens, there is a risk that disposible income could fall - so I'm pretty sure a multi-million pound ride would be a risk.

In any case, footfall isn't the most important number - spend per head is. And as much as we like to bash Merlin, they are pretty good at getting people spending.
 
Stats at non independent parks are largely based on falsehoods.

Thorpe had a dire year.

Alton and Garda were the only RTPs that performed last year.

Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk
 
Stats at non independent parks are largely based on falsehoods.

Thorpe had a dire year.

Alton and Garda were the only RTPs that performed last year.

Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk
Are you implying that these numbers are false and will be different when the TEA report comes out?
 
A lot of these numbers are bobbins, some will be closer than others.

Additionally, an attendance metric alone doesn't indicate very much. At the height of 'coaster mania' in the late 90s and early 2000s Six Flags was doing great attendance numbers but driving the company into bankruptcy at the same time.

If you are giving away your gate, you're going to welcome a lot of people through the turnstiles.
 
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