EUROPA-PARK CELEBRATES REOPENING OF SCANDINAVIAN THEMED AREA

BY GABRIELLE

Europa-Park, Germany’s largest theme park, has reopened its Scandinavian themed area. The much-loved Scandinavian part of the resort features an idyllic village with colourful wooden houses.

Since it opened in 1992, the Nordic peninsula element at Europa-Park has fascinated visitors to the theme park, with its unique architecture and authentic Scandinavian food on offer in the area’s themed eateries.

In May 2018, a fire destroyed several parts of the area, along with the adjacent Pirates in Batavia ride.

The rebuilt land promises to provide a more authentic experience than ever to guests, with a Fjord Restaurant, a Fiskehuset fish counter, an Is Huset ice cream parlour, alongside games, shops and photo opportunities.

This autumn, a dark ride known as Snorri Touren is due to open in the Scandinavian land. Developed by Dutch attraction designers, Jora Vision, the attraction is centred on a ‘naughty octopus,’ which explores the island of Rulantica, the setting of Europa-Park’s upcoming indoor waterpark.

Europa-Park’s Roland Park spoke about the reopening of the Nordic themed area.

“Scandinavia was and still is at home in the heart of Europa-Park, with many unique memories. It has been a great desire for us to rebuild this unique place as soon as possible.

“For more than 350,000 hours, at times more than 100 construction workers were busy day and night making the impossible possible. Despite many other construction projects, today, after just 13 months of construction, to be able to celebrate this memorable event means a lot to us,” Muck added.

The rebuilt pirates ride is due to open in 2020, featuring 125 animated characters and the latest in animatronic technology.

SMART-BAND TECH POISED TO HIT FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY IN 2020

 BY GABRIELLE

A first-of-its-kind electronic wristband will soon be available to visitors of attraction and entertainment venues, designed to improve guest experience.

The smart-band technology has been developed by Level8, a Dallas-Fort based company that are specialists in building smart systems and solutions for the entertainment sector.

The smart wristband will work in collaboration with a high-tech mobile app from Active8 Software. The advanced wearable tech is aimed at providing amusement centres, trampoline parks, climbing and other leisure entertainment venues with a fully integrated solution, which is significantly more efficient than the outdated options still available today.

The smart wristband is known as the Intelliband.

Greg Spittle, founding partner of Level8, commented on the unique abilities of the Intelliband and how it can be used in gamification to provide a points system, inviting guests to earn points while at a gaming venue.

“Kids will love the ability to gain points for various activities, such as a game of dodgeball, an attempt at a ninja warrior course or racing up a climbing wall.

“Intelliband will track guests’ activities, like jumping and climbing, or simply attempting various attractions. Earning points turns the entire experience into one big game, keeping the guests engaged while they’re at the facility and driving them back repeated times with the goal of increasing scores and redeeming points,” Spittle added.

The wristband will also feature a cashless payment system, aimed at making it easier for guests to track the time they have spent at an entertainment centre without having to worry about cash or cards.

The band will deactivate when it is taken off a participant’s wrist.

ONE MILLIONTH RIDER BOARDS MILLENNIUM FALCON: SMUGGLERS RUN

BY GABRIELLE

Disneyland’s themed area Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has welcomed its one millionth rider into the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.

Disneyland shared a video of the Ridgeway family from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, celebrating being the millionth riders on the popular Millennium Falcon ride.

The flight simulator attraction uses interactive gameplay and immersive storytelling. Multiple riders sit in the cockpit of the ride and are each assigned a role.

Operating as pilots, flight engineers and gunners, visitors then battle TIE fighters in an attempt to smuggle goods as part of their interactive space mission.

The Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run opened on May 31, 2019 with the rest of the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge themed area at Disneyland.

Since opening, the flight simulator has proved a hit, attracting an average 20,000 passengers a day.

SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED FOR IAAPA EXPO EUROPE 2019 IN PARIS

BY GABRIELLE

IAAPA has announced the speaker line-up for the IAAPA Expo Europe, which is poised to be the largest show in the event’s history, occupying over 17,500 net square meters of exhibition space.

Speaking at the Leadership Breakfast is Nicolas de Villiers, president of the French theme park, Puy du Fou. De Villiers will talk about the success of the unique Grand Parc and share visions of international expansions.

Daniel Delcourt, chief operating officer for Disneyland Paris and David Wilson, Walt Disney Imagineering site leader for Disneyland Paris will talk at the Future Feature: The Future of Disneyland Paris session. Delcourt and Wilson will discuss the future of the Disneyland Paris resort.

IAAPA Expo Europe will also feature prominent leaders of theme park groups in Europe, who will share insights and perspectives on the French amusement park industry and discuss future goals and strategies for their organisations.

François Fassier, director of Leisure Parks Operations at Compagnie des Alpes, Laurent Bruloy, président of Looping Group and Benoit Chang, CEO of EuropaCity, are due to speak at the Lunch and Learn: What’s Next for the French Attractions Industry event.

The Lunch and Learn: Eye on the Middle East and Africa Attractions Industry will also feature industry leaders who will talk about the latest developments in the Middle East and Africa regions.

These speakers include Sabine Lehmann, executive director, Attractions Africa, Bill Ernest, CEO, Saudi Entertainment Ventures (SEVEN) and Bianca Sammut, general manager, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi.

IAAPA Expo Europe 2019 is taking place at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles in Paris on 16-19 September.

WORLD’S LARGEST INDOOR CLIMBING WALL COMING TO UAE

BY GABRIELLE

The largest climbing wall in the world is to open on Yas Island in Abu Ahabi in 2020. The giant wall will be 43 metres high and will be known as Clymb Abu Dhabi.

There will be four walls of different levels of difficulty for climbers to tackle. The project is costing $100,000 and is being developed by Miral Asset Management, the Abu Dhabi government-owned developer responsible for Yas Island’s main leisure and entertainment attractions.

The facility will also be home to the widest flight chamber in the world, where guests can mimic skydiving in a 9.75 metre-wide chamber.

The attraction had been due to open in 2018. However, a fire at the construction site in March, 2018 meant the project has been put back. The world’s largest climbing wall is now due to open some time in 2020.

HUGE INFLATABLE THEME PARK IS COMING TO TAUNTON THIS SUMMER

BY GABRIELLE

Britain’s biggest travelling inflatable theme park is coming to Taunton Town Football Club in Taunton, Devon.

Hailed as being home to “some of England’s biggest and best bouncy castles and inflatables,” the huge temporary theme park will feature around 15 to 20 inflatables, including a 50ft high slide, a 35ft helter-skelter, and numerous assault courses and play areas.

The park will also feature a total wipe-out zone, a bungee and zorbs. The inflatables are suitable for children aged between two and 14.

The inflatable theme park will be in Taunton from July 27 until August 5, 2019. Admission is £8 per child and adults can enter for free.

TOKYO DISNEYSEA LAUNCHES FLIGHT SIMULATOR ATTRACTION

BY GABRIELLE

A new motion-simulator attraction has opened at Tokyo DisneySea. Known as ‘Soaring: Fantastic Flight,’ the attraction makes riders feel like they are travelling through the air.

The soaring sensation lasts for approximately five minutes, during which time riders witness images of wonders from around the world on a hemispherical screen, including the Great Wall of China, the Pyramids of Egypt, and the savannah in Kenya.

The experience is heightened with smells and the feeling that the wind is blowing, which changes as the simulator’s scenery moves on.

Toyko DisneySea’s operator, Oriental Land Co., invested around 18 billion yuan for the new ride. The attraction is designed for all ages to enjoy.

Tokyo SeaLife is a popular aquarium located in the centre of Edogawa’s Kasai Rinkai Park. The venue comprises of 12 different areas that are home to hundreds of species of sea creatures and to one of Japan’s largest penguin exhibitions.

The aquarium features a spectacular glass dome. Another stand-out feature is its 2,200-tonne cylindrical bluefin tuna tank, the first of its kind in the world, enabling tuna fish to replicate their natural swimming patterns.

ECO THEME PARK PLANNED FOR WEST JAVA, INDONESIA

BY GABRIELLE

A Disneyland-style, ecologically friendly theme park is planned to be built in the western part of the island Java, a province of Indonesia.

Perhutani, a state-owned forestry company in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, is planning on developing the ambitious eco-tourism resort.

Perhutani is collaborating with a US-based company to work on the new theme park, which is set to cost billions of dollars to construct.

Working in collaboration with local governments, private investors and community institutions, Perhutani manages hundreds of eco-centred tourist sites, including Papuma Beach, White Crater, Tiga Warna Beach and Pulai Merah Beach.

The eco theme park will be home to a waterpark, adventure park and safari park. It will operate solely on renewable energy.

Denaldy Mulino Mauna, Perum Perhutani’s president director, spoke of the proposed theme park.

“The location is around West Java, we have arranged a pre-feasibility study last year.

“It’s a good location because it’s between Jakarta and West Java. Estimated investment is billions of dollars. We will use Perhutani land later,” said Denaldy Mulino Mauna.

FANTASY ISLAND FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT SITE IS COMING TO SRI LANKA

BY GABRIELLE

A state-of-the-art family entertainment venue known as Fantasy Island is coming to Sri Lanka. The entertainment park will be located in the Colombo suburb of Battaramulla.

Sri Lanka’s state-owned Board of Investment (BOI) has signed an agreement with foreign investors to develop the pioneering attractions site.

The Melchers Group is to build the Fantasy Island project at a cost of $4 million. The venue will feature a 40-metre Ferris wheel, a huge waterplay area with waterslides and other attractions, and an indoor snow facility.

Alexander Melchers, the Melchers Group managing director in South East Asia and founding investor of Fantasy Island, commented:

“Sri Lanka has made great progress to build hotels and infrastructure. Now, the Fantasy Island is the beginning of the next development phase of the tourism industry.

“We will provide a purpose-built, state-of-the-art family entertainment attraction to cater for international and local tourists and residents. I am very confident in the business outlook in Sri Lanka. We represent German, Singaporean, and Swiss investors who believe in the long-term potential of Sri Lanka,” Melchers added.

Michael Perera, chairman of the Sri Lankan office of the Melchers Group, CMC Engineering Export, said:

“In phase 1, the investment of more thn $4 million will bring inclusive attractions for the entire family which are truly unique to Sri Lanka.

“Fantasy Island will create over 60 employment and career development opportunities for the community.”

Fantasy Island is due to be completed in 2020.

DXB ENTERTAINMENTS ANNOUNCE MIXED RESULTS FOR H1

BY GABRIELLE

DXB Entertainments, operator of Dubai parks and resorts, has announced mixed results for the first half of 2019.

During Q2, visitor numbers were up five per cent but had dropped slightly overall in H1. In Q2, the number of visits to Dubai parks and resorts increased by 641,000 compared to the second quarter in 2018.  However, overall in the first half of 2019, DXB Entertainments’ visitor numbers experienced a drop from 1.46 million in 2018 to 1.4 million.

40 per cent of total visitation came from international guests staying at the resorts’ Lapita Hotel, indicating an increase in occupation to 63 per cent, a notable rise compared to the first half of 2018’s 55 per cent.

In June 2019, Dubai’s largest integrated theme park resort opened its second onsite hotel, the 579-room Rove at the Park Hotel. The new accommodation is part of the company’s drive to have more than 1,300 rooms available for guests by the second half of 2020.

DXB Entertainments’ CEO and managing director, Mohamed Almulla, commented on the mixed results so far for 2019.

“We increased international visitation to 40 per cent of the total visitor mix during the first half of the year, in line with our strategy to drive growth through targeting tourists.

“The ability for international visitors to stay at our destination as part of a bundled hotel package deal is becoming increasingly important, as evidence by the steady growth in occupancy at Lapita,” Almulla added.