Economics Global Attractions Attendance Report Credits TEA/AECOM 2013 Theme Index: The Global Attractions Attendance Report Publisher: Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) Executive Editor: Gene Jeffers Research: Economics practice at AECOM Editor: Judith Rubin Publication team: Natalia Bakhlina, Beth Chang, Linda Cheu, Alisa Cohen, Daniel Elsea, Global Gene Jeffers, Kathleen LaClair, Jodie Lock, Ben Martin, John Robinett, Judith Rubin, Brian Sands, Matt Timmins, Chris Yoshii Attractions ©2013 TEA/AECOM. All rights reserved. Attendance Contacts For information about TEA: Report Judith Rubin, [email protected], T: +1 314 853 5210 Gene Jeffers, [email protected], T: +1 818 843 8497 www.TEAconnect.org For information about AECOM’s Economics team and the report: John Robinett Chris Yoshii The definitive annual attendance study for the Senior Vice President, Economics Global Director, Asia themed entertainment and museum industries. [email protected] [email protected] T: +1 213 593 8785 T:+852 3922 8000 Published by the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) and the Economics practice Natalia Bakhlina Brian Sands, AICP at AECOM. Associate Director, Europe Vice President, Economics + Planning [email protected] [email protected] T: +44 20 3009 2278 T: +1 202 821 7281 3 THE BIG PICTURE 7 List of figures page Optimism and economic recovery, 2012 THEME INDEX Asia starts to pull ahead of North Worldwide America, and Museums join the mix. 1 Top 10 theme park groups worldwide 13 2 Top 25 amusement/theme parks worldwide 14–17 3 Top 20 water parks worldwide 18–21 2012 THEME INDEX 12 Americas Americas 23 4 Top 20 amusement/theme parks in North America 28–29 Asia-Pacific 35 5 Top 10 amusement/theme parks in Latin America 30–31 6 Top 20 water parks in North America 32–33 Europe 45 Asia-Pacific 7 Top 20 amusement/theme parks in Asia-Pacific 40–41 2012 MUSEUM INDEX 52 8 Top 15 water parks in Asia-Pacific 42–43 Americas 60 Europe Asia-Pacific 62 9 Top 20 amusement/theme parks in Europe 50–51 Europe 64 2012 MUSEUM INDEX About this study 66 10 Top 20 museums worldwide 57–59 About TEA and AECOM 67 11 Top 20 museums in North America 60–61 12 Top 20 museums in Asia-Pacific 62–63 13 Top 20 museums in Europe 64–65 4 5 THE BIG PICTURE Optimism and economic recovery, Asia starts to pull ahead Interview with of North America, and John Robinett Senior Vice President, Museums join the mix Economics In broad strokes, what kind of a year did the global theme park/water park industry have in 2012? The European, Asian, and North American major operators all 5.2% had a successful year with an average attendance increase Global increase in of 6.7% at the top ten global operators. In Asia and North attendance to theme America attendance was strong, with Asia up roughly 6% parks from 2011 and North America 3%. Europe, which is still in recession, experienced softer numbers. It is our view that, given the economic conditions, theme parks have done a good job this year in maintaining single digit growth in major markets. The market in North America was, this year as last year, driven by major reinvestment at major operators’ parks. Last year, Orlando led the way with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Florida. This year, it was Southern California, with substantial increases at Disney California Adventure (where additions included Cars Land) as well as Universal Studios Hollywood (which added Transformers: the Ride 3-D). 7 The European, Asian and North Weather was a big factor holding back attendance growth in European theme parks in 2012. Should operators American major operators all had a consider climate patterns when they think about successful year. reinvestment to boost growth? If exposure to extreme or uncomfortable weather conditions is keeping visitors away, it’s worth addressing the issue with In Asia there has been double digit growth on the part of careful and thoughtful investment. The cost of creating leading international and domestic operators. Hong Kong comfort should create commensurate benefits. Short of Disney and Universal Studios Japan were up 14%. Lotte enclosing a property outright, there are plenty of options World, Chimelong and other major parks saw tremendous that can provide relief to guests, such as shade structures, growth as well. landscaping, misters, air-conditioned theaters, and outdoor heaters. Europe’s theme parks experienced, for the most part, some small gains and some small losses, consistent with the What are some important trends as Asia grows toward region’s economic malaise. But in the midst of that were global dominance in visitor attractions? some inspiring successes. Parc Asterix, Legoland Windsor and Puy du Fou all benefited from smart reinvestment Asia brought something new to the destination resort mix in attractions as well as marketing, reaping attendance by incorporating casinos and cultural facilities along with increases ranging from 5 to 8%. theme parks, retail and hospitality, what they call “integrated resorts”. This broader spectrum of elements has been very The water parks business grew in both North America and successful in their markets. It’s a business model of cross 16m Asia. We forecasted in last year’s Theme Index that the subsidization, with the high cash flow casinos supporting Top 15 Asia-Pacific industry in Asia would begin to outpace the industry in North the lower cash flow cultural elements. waterparks total America; in the water parks we track, we’ve seen the first attendance in 2012 clear sign of it. Our water park figures show that the Asian Is the Middle East attractions market making a comeback? attendance totals have for the first time surpassed those of North America. The Asian water parks market showed 7.4% What’s happening in the Middle East, especially Dubai and growth with total attendance at 16 million, about 1 million Abu Dhabi, reflects the overall, worldwide return to a positive more than North America. Especially strong performance outlook in attractions markets. There is more optimism now, was seen in China and Southeast Asia. a lot of interesting projects being planned, and expectation of future growth and expansion. One unique factor is When do you forecast Asian theme park attendance will demographics, in some Middle East countries, people are overtake North America? much younger than in other markets. I wouldn’t want to box myself into predicting a specific year, but we will hit a milestone with the opening of Shanghai Disney in 2015. Assuming that the Shanghai Disney opening will be consistent with the openings of other major Disney parks in large international markets, it’s reasonable to expect something in the neighborhood of 10 million What’s happening in the Middle attendance in its first year. It will be the largest theme park East, especially Dubai and development in China to date and can be expected to put Asia within striking distance of surpassing North American Abu Dhabi, reflects the overall, theme park attendance totals. worldwide return to a positive outlook in attractions markets. 8 9 This year’s Theme Index includes attendance numbers for Although museums are nonprofit top museums in Europe, North America and Asia. Why has AECOM begun to track museums? entities with educational missions, Museums represent a very important category of the earned revenue streams are important leisure market with clear commonalities to commercial to them — especially as government attractions. They compete for people’s time and money in similar markets; they cater to families; they help drive funding resources have receded. tourism; and they play a cultural and economic role in their communities. Increasingly, museums are focusing on the guest experience, operations, and marketing in ways that mirror commercial attractions. While their markets are not identical, they overlap and are similar in scale. Both court group attendance. AECOM and TEA, the producers of this report, are both very active within the museum community. AECOM is Although museums are nonprofit entities with educational interested in helping operators improve how they track and missions, earned revenue streams are important to them analyze their audiences and operations to better achieve — especially as government funding sources have receded. their missions, serve their communities and maximize the Tracking their attendance from year to year and studying the bottom line. IAAPA’s annual Museum Day, set up specifically growth factors, as we do with theme parks and water parks, for this kind of information exchange, is one of the forums will help convey a picture of the dynamics that is instructive in which we regularly participate. to both sectors. For its part, TEA recognizes museums as a significant Tracking museums in addition to theme parks puts Europe client market for its members, and reaches out to museum in a different light. While Europe came in last for theme operators to honor excellence in the field with its Thea park attendance compared to other major global markets in Awards. Museums and museum exhibits that have been 2012, it was first in museums. In Europe, the top museums honored with Thea Awards include Canada’s Sports Hall of get more visitation than do theme parks: 72 million total Fame, the Coal Mine and the U-505 exhibits at MSI Chicago attendance for museums versus 58 million for theme parks. and Beyond All Boundaries at the National World War II Further, museum attendance was up 5% in Europe, where Museum. Museums can achieve dramatic attendance theme parks were flat. growth through reinvestment and improvement of the guest experience — it’s just as true for them as it is for theme parks. We’ll be publishing museum attendance numbers as part of the TEA/AECOM Theme Index every year from now on, and we hope to receive feedback from the community.