by Judith Rubin, IPM editor
The TEA/AECOM Theme Index comes out about the same time each year, close to the beginning of June, sharing attendance numbers for the world’s most-visited theme parks, waterparks and museums. Our industry and industry watchers soak up those numbers and put them to work in various ways. Communication and media channels buzz with analysis. As the season progresses, the numbers provide context for observing the current year’s performance and identifying factors for future growth and success.
While enjoying historic international expansion and growth, the attractions industry is being challenged and reshaped by rapid cultural and technological change. Staying current and relevant in the market isn’t just about tech breakthroughs anymore – it’s about how a technically integrated audience has shifted the perspective on everything. It is reinvestment and innovation that drive attendance, but the definition of smart reinvestment has become more complicated.
Here’s a salute to our innovators! The attractions industry is at all times a creative laboratory, operating on a highly visible public platform. This issue of InPark features many examples of the visionaries, creatives, operators and investors taking creative and financial risks to build a better industry. They deserve our deep appreciation. Their R&D and their reinvestments show what works and what doesn’t – ultimately measured by attendance (but don’t rush to premature conclusions – the researchers behind the Theme Index know to give something new a full year of operation to prove itself). Their innovations and their successes will influence what happens next. We hope you will be inspired.
IMAGE: 2019 TEA Thea Award recipient Nemo & Friends SeaRider, a reinvestment in and re-imagining of the fifteen year old StormRider attraction at Tokyo Disney Resort. Credit: Disney/Oriental Land Company
