AusLeisure

The China Daily has reported that, according to a survey by the Horizon Group, one of China's leading strategic research and consultancies, more that 70% of China's 2,500 theme parks are operating at a defecit.

The report revealed that China has invested about 150 billion yuan (US $22 billion) into these parks and that only about 10% of these parks have repaid their initial investment.

Chinese media has also reported that Guanghzhou's Grand World Scenic Park has closed recently, signifying, according to the Guangzhou Daily newspaper, the end of the country's first generation theme parks era.

The newspaper predicts that struggling parks will be replaced with new 'second generation' parks, citing Shanghai's plan to construct a Disney theme park and Zhejiang's plan to rebuild Yuanmingyuan, or the old Summer Palace, as examples.

Liu Wei, a professor from Guangdong University of Finance was quoted as explaining "the theme-park industry hasn't got to a dead end, on the contrary, it's just taking off in China, and it's going to be a promising industry if distinctive features and innovation are added to it."

2nd June 2008 - SIX FLAGS PLANS MOVE INTO CHINA

Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

Click here to subscribe.

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.