Standards and attendances rise at Asian attractions

The growing number of new, world-class theme parks and attractions in Asia is drawing record visitor numbers while also raising standards, according to industry leaders at this week's Asian Attractions Expo in Singapore.

Speaking at the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) convention, held at the Marina Bay Sands Singapore from 4th to 7th June, IAAPA President and Chief Executive Paul Nolan stated "the presence of world-class attractions helps to expand the market, as they educate the market on what truly world-class attractions are."

Speaking in the week that the latest Themed Entertainment Association /AECOM Theme Index showed that Asia's theme and water parks were leading a global rise in attendances with a 5.8% in annual attendances in 2012 (with visitation rising to 108.7 million attendances), Nolan acknowledged growth and competition in the market, adding "when Disneyland first opened in southern California, just down the road from Knott's Berry Farm - one of the earliest amusement parks, people said 'Oh, Knott's Berry Farm is going to close'.

"But attendance at Knott's Berry Farm went up because more people now knew what a theme park is and were coming to southern California just for a theme park-based vacation.

"Similarly, when Hong Kong Disneyland opened, people said Ocean Park might as well close. But Ocean Park is doing better than ever before because it learned a few things, it changed, it expanded."

IAAPA Chairman (and President and Chief Executive of Morey's Piers in New Jersey, USA) Will Morey, described the growth of Asia's attractions industry as amazing, pointing to the number of major projects on the horizon such as Shanghai Disney Resort and Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in Zhuhai, China.

Morey explained "the enemy is not in the number of attractions. The enemy is in attractions (themselves) when they do not (differentiate). Designers and owners must focus on the authenticity of their attractions."

Morey added that attractions must "innovate and be creative" when faced with challenges.

Edward S Marks, executive producer and co-CEO of US-based The Producers group, an international attraction development and production company involved in several successful attractions such as Crane Dance at Resorts World Sentosa and Universal Studios Japan, said attractions should aim to "come up with something new every year" to stay competitive and fresh for repeat visitors.

The 2014 Asian Attractions Expo will be held at the China National Convention Centre (CNCC) in Beijing from 17th to 20th June 2014.

For more information on the Asian Attractions Expo go to www.iaapa.org/expos/asian-attractions-expo-2013/home

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