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- Bangkok Bounce-Back
- How Themed Attractions and Destination Resorts are remaking the Malaysian attractions industry.
- A look at what Asian parks are doing to leverage social media.
- New attractions don’t stay new forever—which is why adaptable infrastructure is looking like the way of the present and future.
- Surf and Turf: Water and FEC attractions can mix successfully.
INDUSTRY FOCUS
- BALPPA leaders reflect on the association’s 75 years serving the UK industry.
- How attractions can and should benefit from local tourism boards.
- How Montreal’s Snow Village—the ultimate snow fort— earns cold, hard cash.
- The gas vs. electric go-kart conversation revs up.
DEPARTMENTS
THE MIDWAY
Funworld JULY 2007
Updates from the Desk of IAAPA Europe
by Jeff Bertus, vice president, IAAPA Europe
Ride Safety Reporting in Europe
During a safety conference organized by the European Commission we realized little is known about the safety record of our industry. Figures available were misunderstood and unreliable. It was clear we needed better data.
After discussing several proposals, Europarks, the federation of national associations for the amusement and attractions industry in Europe, and IAAPA recommended the introduction of a comprehensive ride safety reporting system for Europe. This initiative is focused on reporting patron injuries associated with amusement rides, ultimately allowing the European industry to compile real figures regarding ride safety in Europe. This reporting system is similar to one required of U.S. members. Reporting will be annual, and data will be completely anonymous.
IAAPA Europe and the cooperating national associations are informing their members about this initiative and reinforcing the importance of safety. For more information, contact IAAPA Europe at europe@iaapa.org or +32/24016161.
The French Association Meets
Leisure time was the key topic during “The Future of the Leisure Parks,” a presentation that took place during SNELAC’s (Syndicat National des Espaces de Loisirs, d’Attractions et Culturels) annual meeting at Futuroscope, the popular future-themed park. After opening remarks by Patrick Hummel, CEO of Futuroscope, and SNELAC Chairman Arnaud Bennet, sociologist Ana Bauer discussed how the French use their 39 days of holiday during the year. The majority of that leisure time is spent at home, with Internet, video games, movies, etc., but since the 1990s, parks have developed in France and are attracting tens of millions of visitors, she said. Additionally, she pointed out, visitors are demanding more high-quality and customized experiences from their parks.
Thierry Leleu, external relations director of EuroDisney, discussed the development of the villages natures in cooperation with Pierres et Vacances and the French state. The project is a one-of-a-kind resort based on sustainable development and located 6 kilometers (about 3.8 miles) from the Disneyland Resort Paris. It would serve as a complementary facility to the Disney property.
Gilles Guyomard, president of the French research company Contours, presented a survey on the industry showing the number of visits to attractions in 2006 would amount to 64 million, 65 percent of which are repeat visits. Guyomard pointed out the company’s method of researching the “psychological price” for an attraction, which is based on the ideas of “the minimum you still trust” and the “maximum price you would be able to spend.” For parks such as Disney that was between €15 and €39 ($20 and $53); for theme parks like Puy du Fou the range is from €15 to €24 ($20 and $32); for aquariums and zoos: €10 and €14 ($14 and $19) and for waterparks: €10 and €18 ($14 and $25).
Better Roads for the Environment
During the SNELAC conference Thierry Leleu of Disney also mentioned that 5 percent of the CO 2 emission is related to tourism. Together with the Brussels Programme Centre of the International Road Federation (IRF), European Union Road Federation (ERF) just published “Sustainable Roads,” a paper advocating for more carefully planned and constructed roads (as well as better maintenance of existing roads), which could lead to tangible positive effects for the environment.
A study undertaken by the SINTEF Group, an independent research organization in Scandinavia, also found a link between better roads and positive effects on the environment. For the full ERF/IRF BPC paper on sustainable roads, visit www.erf.be/section/positionspapers.
EC Invites Industry Leaders to Speak
The European Commission’s tourism unit is urging top amusement, leisure, and attractions professionals to apply to be panelists at this year’s Sixth European Tourism Forum, at the ARADE Pavilion in Portimao, Algarve, Portugal, Oct. 26-27, 2007. The forum will focus on the importance of tourism in Europe’s economy and the potential for future growth and employment.
More information is available at http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/services/tourism/index_en.htm.