Amusement parks and other attractions continue to be a popular choice of Europeans in determining how they spend their leisure time and dollars…
Amusement parks and other attractions continue to be a popular choice of Europeans in determining how they spend their leisure time and dollars, according to the recently-released 2001 European Amusement Industry Consumer Survey commissioned by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (
The survey was conducted last fall in 11 European countries and is based upon a sample size of 500 persons 15 years or older in each nation. Questions concerned frequency of visits to attractions, the types of attractions visited, certain aspects of the respondent`s last visit, and future plans to visit an attraction. The types of attractions included were: amusement parks (or piers in the U.K.), zoos, waterparks, and other attractions.
The survey found that 55 percent of the total 15-and-over population in these European states visited an amusement attraction last year, which translates into nearly 158 million people. Those countries with the greatest number of attraction-goers were Denmark (67 percent), Germany (64 percent), and the U.K. (64 percent). Respondents in France and Belgium were the least likely to have visited an attraction in the past year, with 43 percent and 45 percent, respectively.
Amusement parks proved the most popular overall attraction of the four types included in the survey, with 32 percent of visits, followed by zoos (28 percent), other attractions (26 percent), and waterparks (21 percent). However, this ranking did not hold true in each individual nation. For example, in Germany zoos received the most visits (41 percent), while in Italy other attractions shared top honors with amusement parks, each grabbing 27 percent of visits.
Various details regarding the respondents` demographics and past visits are contained in the survey as well, including material on age brackets, income levels, travel patterns, and spending habits. One such finding is that nearly half (47 percent) of the respondents visited an attraction as part of a small group that contained no children.
Finally, in a brief section concerning future plans, two-thirds (66 percent) of the survey group indicated an intention to maintain or increase their number of visits to attractions in the coming year. The reasons behind these future plans are also noted.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
