TETEA/EA/ERRAA TThemeheme PPararkk AAttttendendancancee ReRepporortt © 2007 TEA and ERA TEA/ERA Theme Park Attendance Report 2006 Executive Publisher: TEA Executive Editor: Gene Jeffers Introduction Research: Economics Research Associates Editor: Judith Rubin One of the goals of TEA from the very start of the Publishers: InPark Magazine, Park World association was to be an industry leader in terms © 2007 TEA/ERA. All Rights Reserved. of information, education and standards and practices. With the introduction of this report, TEA Headquarters TEA moves ever-closer to fulfilling that goal. 175 E. Olive, Suite 100 Burbank, CA 91502, USA Tel. +01-818-843-8497 www.teaconnect.org This report is, plain and simple, the industry About TEA standard for attendance data as compiled by The TEA (formerly Themed Entertainment Association) is Economics Research Associates (ERA). ERA’s an international nonprofit organization founded in 1991 annual theme park attendance report has always to represent the creators of compelling experiences and been a must-read for the industry—a tool for places worldwide—from architects to designers, techni- journalists; a resource for industry professionals cal specialists to master planners, scenic fabricators to artists, and builders to feasibility analysts—some 6,500 and others. TEA is proud to be working with ERA creative specialists working in nearly 500 firms in 39 dif- to release and distribute this report. We look ferent countries. forward to continuing the relationship and the production cycle, so that you can look forward to About ERA Economics Research Associates is an international con- a regular stream of these useful educational sulting firm focused on economic analysis for the enter- materials. We are also truly honored to be tainment and leisure industry, real estate development, working with two fine magazines that support public-policy analysis, tourism, and economic develop- our industry, Park World and InPark Magazine, to ment. Since its founding in 1958, ERA has completed over ensure timely and efficient distribution of this 17,000 assignments yielding unmatched experience in information to the widest possible audience land use economics. Visit www.econres.com. worldwide. About the Editor Judith Rubin is a prominent industry voice, since 1987 actively using the written word to promote the attractions TEA will continue to build a library of trade community on behalf of trade associations, publications resources and information that will be of endur- and creative companies. Areas of specialization include ing value to TEA members and the industry as a urban development, theater technology, performing arts, whole. Look for more initiatives of this kind to themed entertainment, museums and heritage attractions, safety, tech integration and effects, markets and trade appear in the months and years to come. events. Initially Distributed By: Sincerely, Craig Hanna, Thinkwell Design & Production International Board President, TEA TEA’s Research Initiative Is Supported By © 2007 TEA and ERA 2006 Theme Park Attendance Numbers Demonstrate The Benefits of Reinvestment By Judith Rubin About this Report affect the numbers are noted in the This annual study of global theme comments and analysis provided. Part park attendance numbers compiled of framing the yearly snapshot is by Economics Research Associates deciding how many to include on a (ERA) identifies the top commercial particular list in order to give the theme parks around the world, and clearest representation, i.e. top 25 presents an instructive, yearly worldwide given for 2006; top 20 snapshot of the industry for the North American given for 2006. It benefit of those whose businesses should be noted that some 2005 depend on it. In past years, this numbers (published last year in report was released in Amusement Amusement Business) have been Business, which recently ceased adjusted and updated based on new publication. TEA was fortunately in a information and may not be directly position to take up the production of comparable to previous years’ “Rule Number One this vital report and arrange for its published information. Facilities that in the theme park simultaneous printing in two maga- for one reason or another do not zines, Park World and InPark. The qualify for the tallies but that fit into industry is ‘Thou information will also be available in the general industry and are generat- Shalt Reinvest!’” pdf format on the TEA and ERA ing significant attendance, are websites at www.teaconnect.org and addressed in the end notes on page Ray Braun, ERA www.econres.com, respectively. 10. Eventually some of these are liable to warrant the creation of new ERA obtains the figures used to create categories, as the nature of parks, this report through a variety of attractions and entertainment sources, including statistics furnished continues to evolve. directly by the operators, historical numbers, financial reports, the A Quick Sketch of investment banking community, local The Global Picture tourism organizations and convention Overall, the 2006 numbers point to and visitors bureaus, among others. stability and moderate growth, The global market is studied as a showing a worldwide attendance whole, and each of its four main increase of 2.2%. In all tallies, few regions are also studied separately: parks have changed position from North America, Latin America, Europe 2005. Disney remains the leader, and Asia. There is also a table of the topping the worldwide list and all top waterparks in the United States regional lists except Mexico/Latin and of the top global chain operators. America. The latter market is less To be included in the study, a facility developed compared to North must be gated (entry ticket required). America and Europe because of a North American parks must have disparity in income levels and a more annual visits above one million. To be moderately-sized middle-class included on the top chains list, a population (although growing). chain operator must have theme Nonetheless, several years ago this parks in its portfolio. region introduced a most promising new product type in La Ciudad de los Factors such as development, pricing, Ninos~ (Kidzania), a unique facility set customer service, weather, demo- up as a functional mini-metropolis in graphics, investment/expansion, which children role-play at being attendance and other dynamics that working adults. This Mexico City 1 © 2007 TEA and ERA TOP 25 AMUSEMENT/THEME PARKS WORLDWIDE (2006) Rank 2006 Park & Location Attendance 1 MAGIC KINGDOM at Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA 16,640,000 2 DISNEYLAND, Anaheim, California, USA 14,730,000 3 TOKYO DISNEYLAND, Tokyo, Japan 12,900,000 4 TOKYO DISNEY SEA, Tokyo, Japan 12,100,000 5 DISNEYLAND PARIS, Marne-La-Vallee, France 10,600,000 6 EPCOT at Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA 10,460,000 7 DISNEY-MGM STUDIOS THEME PARK at Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA 9,100,000 8 DISNEY'S ANIMAL KINGDOM at Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA 8,910,000 9 UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN, Osaka, Japan 8,500,000 10 EVERLAND, Kyonggi-Do, South Korea 7,500,000 11+ UNIVERSAL STUDIOS at Universal Orlando, Florida 6,000,000 11+ BLACKPOOL PLEASURE BEACH, England 6,000,000 13 DISNEY'S CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE, Anaheim, California, USA 5,950,000 14 SEAWORLD FLORIDA, Orlando, Florida, USA 5,740,000 15 LOTTE WORLD, Seoul, South Korea 5,500,000 16 YOKOHAMA HAKKEIJIMA SEA PARADISE, Yokohama, Japan 5,400,000 17 ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE at Universal Orlando, Orlando, Florida, USA 5,300,000 18 HONG KONG DISNEYLAND, Hong Kong, SAR, China 5,200,000 19 UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD, Universal City, California, USA 4,700,000 20 TIVOLI GARDENS, Copenhagen, Denmark 4,396,000 21 OCEAN PARK, Hong Kong, China 4,380,000 22 BUSCH GARDENS TAMPA BAY, Tampa Bay, Florida, USA 4,360,000 23 SEAWORLD CALIFORNIA, San Diego, California, USA 4,260,000 24 EUROPA-PARK, Rust, Germany 3,950,000 25 NAGASHIMA SPA LAND, Kuwana, Japan 3,910,000 Note: + indicates a tie Source: TEA and Economics Research Associates (ERA) Some Key Figures: innovation has begun to have sister * 119.8 million: Total visits to the Top * 68.3 million: Visits recorded for the facilities worldwide, most recently in 20 parks in North America in 2006, Asia/Pacific Top 10 parks in 2006, Tokyo. Asia is experiencing stronger representing growth of an esti- up 4.4% from 2005. The increase growth, especially dramatic in China mated 1.5% compared to the pre- is mainly due to the opening of where the middle class is expanding vious year. Hong Kong Disneyland and a rapidly. Several major attraction * 59.2 million: The 2006 attendance record year at Ocean Park. projects are in the pipeline in the total for the Top 20 parks in Eu- * 11.8 million: Visits for the Top 15 region including a Universal Studios rope, representing a growth rate waterparks in the United States in of 1.9% compared to 2005 (higher 2006, up 2.5% from the previous theme park in Singapore in 2010. than the comparable US growth year. Several new entrants on the European parks are being well- rate for the same period). list helped to achieve this healthy maintained and replenished by * 11 million: Visits to the Top 10 parks growth figure. continuing private investment. in Latin America for 2006. This * 186.5 million: Total attendance for number is estimated to be flat or 2006 among world’s Top 25 parks slightly down compared to 2005, (parks with attendance above 3.9 tempered by a couple of parks in million), up 2.9% from 2005. Brazil and Mexico having per- * 2.2% growth: Percentage by which formed very well. the report found that worldwide theme park attendance continued its growth from last year. 2 © 2007 TEA and ERA Investing in A Family Tradition “The basic purposes of a theme park TOP 10 ASIAN/PACIFIC RIM AMUSEMENT/THEME PARKS (2006) visit—a family outing and interaction Rank Park & Location Attendance as a group—haven’t changed,” ob- 1 TOKYO DISNEYLAND, Tokyo, Japan 12,900,000 serves Christian Aaen, senior associ- ate in the Los Angeles office of ERA.