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Association chief: Freiing parks want to grow globally
Freiing parks are often associated with roller coasters. But the industry is diverse – and expands worldwide.
Despite the global growth, amusement parks want to further expand their business. “We expect steady growth for 2025 and 2026,” said Jakob Wahl, CEO of the IAAPA industry association (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions) of the German Press Agency. The occasion was a meeting in the Europa-Park north of Freiburg.
Reasons for the cautious confidence of the industry are investments in the parks in new attractions and increasing demand from visitors. “The industry remains resistant,” said election.
Last year, leisure and theme parks have implemented around $ 60 to $ 65 billion (around 53 to 57 billion euros) worldwide last year. The economic prospects are not rosy worldwide: the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had recently announced that in view of the aggressive customs policy of US President Donald Trump, he expected global growth.
Association chief Wahl pointed to the booming golf states that expand their tourism: in Abu Dhabi there was the Seaworld maritime theme park. In Asia, parks in Japan and South Korea are expanded – investments are also made in China, such as the new Legoland Shanghai, said Wahl.
Big players in Europe are Efteling in the Netherlands, Portaventura World in Spain, Disneyland near Paris and the Europa-Park in Germany. Over six million people come to the South Baden facility with roller coasters, water parks and hotels. Europe is a lively and stable part of the global industry, summarized choice.
dpa
Source: Stern
