Massive growth in attendances at Asian attractions

The annual TEA/AECOM Theme Index and Museum Index, the definitive annual attendance study for the themed entertainment and museum industries, shows that attendances at Asia's top theme parks and waterparks grew by more than 7.5% in 2013.

Detailing attraction numbers for calendar year 2013, the Index shows substantial growth internationally, with Asia continuing to surge forward and lead attendance growth, the Middle East resuming development activity, top North American parks surpassing pre-recession days and waterparks emerging in Latin America, 

Globally, the top theme park operators posted attendance growth of 5.4% overall, and the top 25 theme parks grew at a similar rate of 4.3%. The top museums also performed well, up over 7% internationally.

Some key figures from the report: 

• 377 million visits to attractions run by the top 10 global theme park groups, up 5.4%
• 215 million visits to the top 25 theme/amusement parks worldwide, up 4.3%
• 135 million visits to the top 20 North American theme/amusement parks, up 2.7%
• 117 million visits to the top 20 Asian theme/amusement parks, up 7.5%
• 106 million visits to the top 20 worldwide museums, up 7.2%
• 75 million visits to the top 20 European museums, up 4.6%
• 58 million visits to the top 20 European theme/amusement parks, flat
• 58 million visits to the top 20 North American museums, up 1.6%
• 53 million visits to the top 20 Asian museums, up 27.6%
• 27 million visits to the top 20 worldwide water parks, up 9.3%

TEA (the Themed Entertainment Association) is an international nonprofit alliance founded in 1991 and based in Burbank, Calif. TEA represents some 8,000 creative specialists, from architects to designers, technical specialists to master planners, scenic fabricators to artists, and builders to feasibility analysts working in some 1,000 firms in 40 different countries. TEA presents the annual Thea Awards and the TEA Summit and hosts the annual SATE conference (Story, Architecture, Technology, Experience). TEA produces a variety of print and electronic publications, including the annual TEA/AECOM Theme Index, TEA Annual & Directory and Thea Awards Program. Visit www.TEAconnect.org. 

AECOM is a global provider of professional technical and management support services to a broad range of markets, including transportation, facilities, environmental, energy, water and government. With approximately 45,000 employees around the world, AECOM is a leader in all of the key markets that it serves. AECOM provides a blend of global reach, local knowledge, innovation and technical excellence in delivering solutions that create, enhance and sustain the world's built, natural, and social environments. A Fortune 500 company, AECOM serves clients in more than 150 countries and had revenue of $8.0 billion during the 12 months ended 31st March 2013. More information on AECOM and its services can be found at www.aecom.com. 

The TEA/AECOM Theme Index and Museum Index is a collaboration of the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) and the economics practice at AECOM, a global provider of technical-professional and management-support services. 

This calendar-year study of global attractions attendance is a free resource for park operators, land developers and the travel industry. Top worldwide theme parks, amusement parks, water parks, museums and theme park group operators are named, and industry trends are identified.

Published by the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) and the Economics practice at AECOM, this report is available free on the AECOM website at www.aecom.com/themeindex and on the TEA website at www.teaconnect.org/pdf/TEAAECOM2013.pdf. 

It will also be distributed in a print version and Chinese-language translation at the IAAPA Asian Attractions Expo in Beijing, running from 17th to 20th June. 

11th June 2013 - MUSEUMS DRIVE ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL TRANSFORMATION

6th June 2013 - ASIA LEADS GLOBAL GROWTH IN THEME PARK AND WATERPARKS ATTENDANCE