PW OCT08 P05v4.qxd 9/24/08 10:09 am Page 5
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BigQuestion
Figures
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How have rising fuel prices affected your park
this season?
50of Fun
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Rio Iman Sendjojo, Jawa Timur Park, Indonesia: It’s not just petrol prices; it’s
the cost of electric and many other things that have risen, so we have had to put our
1
prices up as well. However, we have had some success by encouraging local people to
Piccadilly Circus – address of the
come here rather than drive to Jakarta, where they will also spend more money when they
new Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
get there. The market is very price sensitive here in Indonesia.
in London
Jack Boylin, Camden Park, USA: We have found that fuel prices have had an
overall positive impact on our attendance, folks are staying closer to home and visiting our
2
park over taking a trip somewhere else. Also our pool of workers has grown, we have a lot
number of visitors who saw Hitler
of applicants who are looking to compliment their current income (teachers, seniors etc)
at Madame Tussauds Berlin
and we also have a large number of youth choosing to work over not working for the
summer. Together this has offset our rising expenses for employees and cost of goods.
before his head was ripped off
Marshall Hill, Hayling Island, UK: They haven’t helped. Certainly around the start
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of the summer, in June, we took a hit but I think people are used to them now aren’t
number of naked riders on
they? In fact, these past few weeks the petrol price has even gone down. We’re having a
Nemesis at Alton Towers
good day today, and that’s because the sun is shining. The weather is still the number
one thing that affects this business. Into next year I think all seaside places will do better
...a record!
as less people will be going abroad because of rising costs in
general.
120
feet – height of Summit Plummet
John Collins, Indiana Beach, USA: We are finding that our guests are staying on
at Blizzard Beach, Walt Disney
property and taking advantage of our affordable accommodation and choosing to visit us
as opposed to longer journeys. We are a one-tank trip from our major markets of
World, the tallest freefall body
Indianapolis and Chicago.
slide in the world
Mario Müller, Märchenpark, Austria: For the last few seasons we have
15,000
experienced a steady attendance increase thanks to the opening up of the market from
animals living at Berlin Zoo,
neighbouring Hungary and Slovakia. Because they have few leisure attractions in their
own countries, they are prepared to drive here regardless of petrol prices. However, we
making it the largest in the world
plan to provide special bus services from Vienna, Budapest and Bratislava so people
without cars can get here. This is very important for our future growth. At present more
Figures by Economics Research Associates
than 80% of our guests arrive by car.
(ERA) www.econres.com
Ups &
Coney Island Blues - Astroland at Coney Rain Rain Go Away - The weather,
Island in New York City has closed for good more than the economy is what really
Downs
after failing to agree a new lease with Thor affects the outdoor amusement
Equities. Thor has also gone very quiet lately industry. Too bad, then, that it’s
on its plans for a replacement all-weather been so mixed in many parts
amusement outlet at Coney. of Europe this summer. Still, there’s
always the “Indian Summer.”
Cedar Success - Revenues and
Third Season Lucky - Hong Kong
attendance at Cedar Fair’s 11
Disneyland has seen a surge in visitors Deft Decision - A British park owner has
amusement parks and six waterparks
in its third season. Numbers are employed his own weatherman after claiming
in North America rose 3% during the
expected to hit 5.6 million, up from continued negative forecasts are damaging
third quarter of 2008 compared to
4.2 million in 2007, but still short of his business. Philip Miller of Adventure Island
the same period last year.
targets. The park now has a new is to make Tom Defty’s forecasts available to
managing director as it looks to the other business in the resort of Southend-on-
Chinese mainland for extra guests. Sea.
OCTOBER 2008 5
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