| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 24/04/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 63 |
| Copyright: Other |
EUROPEAN
THEME PARKS
THE success of Disneyland Paris has had an uplifting effect on Europe’s theme parks, with most reporting substantial growth in visitor numbers last year.Phantasialand in Germany, for example, received 2.3m visitors, which was 10% up on 1998, while France’s Parc Asterix welcomed 2m visitors, up from 1.71m. At the same time, UK visitors to Disney increased by 5% to 1.93m but the total number of international visitors through the gates, at 12.5m, was similar to 1998.
Bridge Travel Service general manager Jackie Willcocks said: “Clients who have been to Disneyland before are trying the other parks, so they are seeing their numbers grow.
“Efteling and Futuroscope are doing well and there is growing interest in Parc Asterix, especially combined with Disneyland as they are so close,” she added.
Thomas Cook Holidays Disneyland Paris product manager Andy Noble said Parc Asterix is under 30mins by car from Disneyland Paris and is “more interesting” for the UK market since last July’s opening of its first on-site property, L’Hotel des Trois Hiboux.
He added that French rail company SNCF’s new TGV station at Futuroscope, opening June 1, will bring that park closer to the UK. Clients can take Eurostar to Lille and pick up the daily TGV service into the park. Train connection time at Lille is 30mins.
Travelscene sales director John Harding said sales from the operator’s specialist theme parks brochure were going well but not through the trade. “We are marketing it strongly to the trade but we do more direct business on this brochure than on any other because agents only know about Disney,” he said.
Willcocks said Bridge is planning an educational to Parc Asterix this year to help raise awareness. The operator took agents to see Futuroscope last year and she is looking to add Legoland Denmark to the programme next year.
New attractions for this year include Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril: Backwards and Tarzan Encounter at Disneyland Paris. To coincide with their opening, Cresta is offering free nights in April, May and September at Disney’s on-site hotels, allowing a family of four to save up to £162 on a three-night stay.
At Futuroscope, there is a 3D Race for Atlantis simulator where viewers go on a chariot ride, a 3D T-Rex film and a 3D Alien Adventure comic film. Universal Studios is opening its first European ride at Port Aventura.The Sea Odyssey is an undersea simulator ride where aquanaut guests battle sea monsters.
Parks around Europe are feeling the benefit of Disneyland Paris’ success and seeing visitor numbers increase.
Jane Archer reports
Factfile
mainland europe parksEfteling
Sample operators: Bridge Travel Service, Travelscene, Stena Line Holidays and DFDS Seaways.
Legoland
Sample operators: DFDS Seaways and Specialised Tours.
Futuroscope
Sample operators: Bridge Travel Service, Travelscene, Brittany Ferries, Crystal, SeaFrance and EuroSites.
Universal Studios Port Aventura
Sample operators: Airtours, JMC, Unijet, Travelscene, Keycamp, EuroSites, Seligo and Keith Prowse.
Phantasialand
Sample operators: DFDS Seaways.