As China opens up to the West, the nation’s attractions are
booming, with existing attractions reporting record attendances and
new museums, theme parks and science centres planned.
Disney and the Puy du Fou are leading the charge.
By Liz Terry | Published in Attractions Management 2014 issue 3
Speaking at the opening of the recent IAAPA Asian Attractions Expo in Beijing, Paul Noland, president and CEO of IAAPA, said the Chinese market is the fastest growing in the world, with at least 59 theme parks under development, probably more. The trade show – IAAPA’s first foray into mainland China after years in Singapore, Hong Kong and Macau – was a huge step up size-wise on previous events, as suppliers gear up to tackle the commercial opportunities presented by this massive market.
Further evidence of the momentum in the Chinese and wider Asian markets comes from the new TEA/ AECOM 2013 Theme Index & Museum Index (see page 36), which shows that attractions in Asia are booming in terms of both new facility development and attendance. This trend applies to everything from theme parks to museums and watermarks.
The gap in attendance figures between the top 20 North American theme parks and the top 20 Asian parks is narrowing fast, falling from a difference of 22.9 million people in 2012 to 18.3 million in 2013.
Museum attendances in Asia grew by 27.8 per cent in 2013, mainly as a result of a new free-access museums policy which has been implemented in China. The change was rolled out to two-thirds of the nation’s museums during 2013, and its impact shows how – by sheer force of numbers – growth in the Chinese market will enable this rapidly emerging nation to dominate in Asia.
At facility level, the National Museum of China saw a huge jump up the rankings, reporting growth in attendance of 38.7 per cent and moving into third place internationally. This is partly a result of the free admissions policy and partly because the museum has benefited from significant investment. As part of this, the focus of the collections has shifted from local to national history, with a number of popular international exhibitions organised as China opens up to the world.
In 2000, when rumours first circulated about Disney’s intention to build in China, the nation was largely closed to the West, so it was an audacious move by the Mouse.
It was a further nine years before the formal announcement came, showing the incubation period required for a project of this nature, scale and scope.
Disney’s move showed the world China was open for business and was partly responsible for sparking the current wave of development. Shanghai Disneyland will open at the end of 2015. All schemes in China are subject to state approval and as the government favours those promoting Chinese history and culture, they’re dominating proposed developments.
This include plans by the Puy du Fou – France’s world-class historical reenactment theme park – which will work with Chinese partners to build an attraction by the Great Wall.
With such exciting plans in the pipeline, the industry will be riding the development wave in China for decades to come
Liz Terry, editor, twitter: @elizterry
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2014 issue 3
Editor’s letter: Here comes China
As China opens up to the West, the nation’s attractions are
booming, with existing attractions reporting record attendances and
new museums, theme parks and science centres planned
Teamworking: The Art of Collaboration
Merlin’s Mark Fisher talks about working
with Hollywood studio DreamWorks on
the upcoming Shrek-themed midways,
how to spot a winning IP and the
importance of creative collaboration
Talking Point: Whose Museum Is It Anyway?
Five experts debate how museums
can tackle the controversial issue
of balancing the needs of the visitor
with their curatorial responsibilities
Analysis: TEA/AECOM Enduring Appeal
Theme park attendance for 2013
reached an all-time high, and museums
worldwide performed well. AECOM’s
economics experts crunch the numbers
Theme Parks: Oceans of Fun
Chimelong International Ocean Resort
is a big development on a small island.
Will its proximity to the gambling haven
of Macau be a help or a hindrance?
Museums: Virtual Visits
Europe’s biggest museum conference
looks at how technology and the digital
revolution can enhance the attraction. We
report from the event in Newcastle, UK
Technology: Face Reality
As Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg buys
Oculus VR and its Rift device, we look at
how far VR has come, and ask whether
it has a place in the attractions industry
Profile: Sarah Maltby
As Jorvik turns 30, director Sarah
Maltby talks about keeping archaeology
at the heart of what the Viking centre
does, and moving with the times
Storytelling: Inside Story
Abu Dhabi’s Yas Waterworld draws on
the local culture to create a narrative
journey for its visitors. Atkins Global
tells us about an innovative approach
Interview: Rick Schwartz
San Diego Zoo Global ambassador on the
Tiger Trail and conservation initiatives
As China opens up to the West, the nation’s attractions are
booming, with existing attractions reporting record attendances and
new museums, theme parks and science centres planned.
Disney and the Puy du Fou are leading the charge.
By Liz Terry | Published in Attractions Management 2014 issue 3
Speaking at the opening of the recent IAAPA Asian Attractions Expo in Beijing, Paul Noland, president and CEO of IAAPA, said the Chinese market is the fastest growing in the world, with at least 59 theme parks under development, probably more. The trade show – IAAPA’s first foray into mainland China after years in Singapore, Hong Kong and Macau – was a huge step up size-wise on previous events, as suppliers gear up to tackle the commercial opportunities presented by this massive market.
Further evidence of the momentum in the Chinese and wider Asian markets comes from the new TEA/ AECOM 2013 Theme Index & Museum Index (see page 36), which shows that attractions in Asia are booming in terms of both new facility development and attendance. This trend applies to everything from theme parks to museums and watermarks.
The gap in attendance figures between the top 20 North American theme parks and the top 20 Asian parks is narrowing fast, falling from a difference of 22.9 million people in 2012 to 18.3 million in 2013.
Museum attendances in Asia grew by 27.8 per cent in 2013, mainly as a result of a new free-access museums policy which has been implemented in China. The change was rolled out to two-thirds of the nation’s museums during 2013, and its impact shows how – by sheer force of numbers – growth in the Chinese market will enable this rapidly emerging nation to dominate in Asia.
At facility level, the National Museum of China saw a huge jump up the rankings, reporting growth in attendance of 38.7 per cent and moving into third place internationally. This is partly a result of the free admissions policy and partly because the museum has benefited from significant investment. As part of this, the focus of the collections has shifted from local to national history, with a number of popular international exhibitions organised as China opens up to the world.
In 2000, when rumours first circulated about Disney’s intention to build in China, the nation was largely closed to the West, so it was an audacious move by the Mouse.
It was a further nine years before the formal announcement came, showing the incubation period required for a project of this nature, scale and scope.
Disney’s move showed the world China was open for business and was partly responsible for sparking the current wave of development. Shanghai Disneyland will open at the end of 2015. All schemes in China are subject to state approval and as the government favours those promoting Chinese history and culture, they’re dominating proposed developments.
This include plans by the Puy du Fou – France’s world-class historical reenactment theme park – which will work with Chinese partners to build an attraction by the Great Wall.
With such exciting plans in the pipeline, the industry will be riding the development wave in China for decades to come
Liz Terry, editor, twitter: @elizterry
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2014 issue 3
Editor’s letter: Here comes China
As China opens up to the West, the nation’s attractions are
booming, with existing attractions reporting record attendances and
new museums, theme parks and science centres planned
Teamworking: The Art of Collaboration
Merlin’s Mark Fisher talks about working
with Hollywood studio DreamWorks on
the upcoming Shrek-themed midways,
how to spot a winning IP and the
importance of creative collaboration
Talking Point: Whose Museum Is It Anyway?
Five experts debate how museums
can tackle the controversial issue
of balancing the needs of the visitor
with their curatorial responsibilities
Analysis: TEA/AECOM Enduring Appeal
Theme park attendance for 2013
reached an all-time high, and museums
worldwide performed well. AECOM’s
economics experts crunch the numbers
Theme Parks: Oceans of Fun
Chimelong International Ocean Resort
is a big development on a small island.
Will its proximity to the gambling haven
of Macau be a help or a hindrance?
Museums: Virtual Visits
Europe’s biggest museum conference
looks at how technology and the digital
revolution can enhance the attraction. We
report from the event in Newcastle, UK
Technology: Face Reality
As Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg buys
Oculus VR and its Rift device, we look at
how far VR has come, and ask whether
it has a place in the attractions industry
Profile: Sarah Maltby
As Jorvik turns 30, director Sarah
Maltby talks about keeping archaeology
at the heart of what the Viking centre
does, and moving with the times
Storytelling: Inside Story
Abu Dhabi’s Yas Waterworld draws on
the local culture to create a narrative
journey for its visitors. Atkins Global
tells us about an innovative approach
Interview: Rick Schwartz
San Diego Zoo Global ambassador on the
Tiger Trail and conservation initiatives
Abu Dhabi-based investment firm Mubadala Capital has made a binding, fully financed
€1 billion
offer to acquire Pierre and Vacances SA, the European holiday resort operator behind the
continental European Center Parcs business.
Expo 2030 Riyadh is being planned as a permanent visitor destination, with organisers
confirming the six-million-square-metre site will become a Global Village after the event closes.
The owner of one of Australia's best-known waterparks has acquired a major competitor,
creating a new attractions business spanning two of the country's largest visitor destinations.
The Toverland theme park in the Netherlands has announced a €98m expansion programme
that will add a resort, new attractions and staff facilities as it pursues plans to become a multi-
day destination.
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii
is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder
Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while
remaining actively involved with the company.
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th
anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s
longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its
recently launched Sirene Island themed area and introduce younger visitors to thrill attractions.
