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Global attractions association IAAPA has launched its 2022-2026 Global Theme and Amusement Park Outlook report, with the research forecasting a 7% increase in attendance at North American theme parks
Lauren Heath-Jones | Planet Attractions | 18 May 2023
The report estimates that visitor attendance and consumer spending will grow in 2023 Credit: Canva
IAAPA, the international association for the global attractions industry, has released a new report looking at potential growth for the global theme and amusement park industry in between 2022 and 2026.
Called 2022-2026 Global Theme and Amusement Park Outlook Report the research forecasts that theme parks in North America will experience a 7% boost in attendance, reaching a combined 308.5 million visitors through the course of the next year.
According to the report, consumer spending is also expected to increase by approximately 15%, reaching US$32bn (€29.6bn, £25.7bn) in 2023. If this estimate holds true, the report suggests that the domestic attractions industry in the US will have recovered from the losses caused by the pandemic.
Released on May 16, the report also identifies several key industry trends set to impact the industry over the coming summer season. These include:
• Competitive Socialising - Competitive socialising, which guests experience when they visit attractions such as TopGolf, is said to foster more meaningful connections between guests due to the competitive element creating a combination of action and relaxation.
• Technological Advancement - The Covid-19 pandemic has driven technological advancement across the world, particularly in the attractions industry, where operators have taken significant steps to create and enhance mobile apps that actively improve the guest experience.
• Sustainability Focus - Attractions are becoming more sustainability-minded and making concerted efforts to offer more sustainable experiences, these include decreasing food waste, focusing on clean, green energy and using recycle-made products and materials.
• Inclusive Environments - According to IAAPA, there has been an increase in inclusive environments at attractions around the world, such as the Peppa Pig theme parks, which is a certified autism centre. A second Peppa Pig theme park is expected to open in Dallas, Texas, in 2024.
• New Hotels and Resorts - A lot of attractions are taking steps to add overnight accommodations and resorts to their properties, which both adds value to the guest experience and transforms the attraction into a multi-day destination.
“To say the domestic attractions industry is looking at a good 2023 is an understatement,” said IAAPA president Jakob Wahl
“We expect the market in 2023 to fully recapture the lost spending in 2020, and the amount of investment planned for our region supports the demand we’re seeing.”
Theme park
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