New trends drive up attendance in waterpark industry

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We are combining waterparks with spas and water-based health therapies, incorporating hospitality and developing water rides reminiscent of theme park rides

The TEA/AECOM Theme and Museum Index was recently released, charting attendance figures in the global attractions industry in 2015.

The report represents the 10th year that these two organisations have researched global attendance at theme parks and waterparks, providing the authors with a chance to reflect both on the growth seen in 2015 as well as in the last decade.

According to AECOM’s John Robinett, the news is summarily good. “Over our 10 years of tracking the industry, we’ve seen steady improvements in business volume (despite a global recession), the introduction of new technologies and the continued internationalisation of the attractions world.”

The report reveals that the waterpark industry in the EMEA region experienced a “5.5 per cent increase in attendance at the top 10 waterparks,” going from 8.5 million to 9 million. The report suggests some of the elements that drove this upward tick included: combining waterparks with spas and water-based health therapies, incorporating hospitality in the overall entertainment complex and developing water rides that offer a ride experience that is reminiscent of a theme park ride.

It’s also interesting to note the diverse locations of waterparks featured on the top 10 list, with three parks in Germany, three in the UAE and one each in Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark and the Czech Republic. The spread of successful waterparks throughout the region is another indication that the water leisure industry is strong and poised for another positive year of growth.