Study tracks post-Coronavirus attractions re-openings in China

A study into the re-opening of attractions undertaken by the China-based subsidiary of consultancy MR-ProFun, Inc. is providing clear indications of what attraction operators may expect as other parts of the world begin to emerge from Coronavirus-related shutdowns.

Explaining that the study, now in its sixth week, is providing insights into what lies ahead for global operators, Jim Higashi, MR-ProFun’s Managing Partner for Planning & Advisory Services, noted “attraction operators around the world are looking to the experience in China for examples of when and how to address their own re-openings.

“Being able to provide comprehensive and comparative information on that China experience has already proven enormously helpful to our clients in many other parts of the world.”

The company, a leading provider of independent Advisory and Management Services to the global attraction industry, has been tracking the status of a variety of operational metrics for a broad cross-section of attractions in several major metropolitan areas in China. Metrics related to re-opening status, social-distancing measures, and guest entry policies are among those being studied.

The tracking study is already illuminating a path forward for global operators.

Estela Yang, the study’s lead researcher in China, pointed to consistent week-over-week gains in re-opening status, commented “with only 28% of our tracked attractions re-opened when we began in April to over 65% now re-opened in our most recent weekly update.”

The study is also revealing how operators may expect to see operations evolve in the wake of post-COVID re-openings.

MR-ProFun’s General Manager in China, Ron Merriman, MR-ProFun’s General Manager in China Ron Merriman, MR-ProFun’s General Manager in China, stated “we have already observed a ‘phasing’ of re-opening activity.

“The initial phase has been a standardization of operating parameters and a gradual re-opening of most attractions under those parameters. We are now seeing movement into a second phase wherein operating parameters are cautiously being expanded. We expect these expanded parameters will also standardize-and their implementation will gradually accelerate among local operators.”

Founded in 1980, over 40 years MR-ProFun has operated as a management consulting and operational management specialist based in Orange County, California with a regional office in Shanghai, China.

The firm specialises in identifying efficiencies that maximise or further optimise new and existing operations at visitor attractions, including theme parks, museums, waterparks, aquariums, destination resorts, brand centres, world expositions and Olympiads.

For more information go to www.mr-profun.com