With new theme parks being developed across Asia, Australasian Leisure Management Publisher Nigel Benton is asking whether Australia will ever witness the development of another major new theme park.
In a online Blog, 'New Theme Park for ....?', Benton recalls "in the early years of publishing Australasian Leisure Management magazine, every six months or so we would learn about and then publish a news story with a headline that can best be recalled as 'New theme park for Queensland'.
"After a few years, the reality of the attractions market in south-east Queensland led us to view such news with some scepticism as these proposed theme parks never materialised, usually as a result of a lack of funds, land or adequate business planning.
"In this climate, operators such as Village Roadshow Theme Parks and Dreamworld (now owned by Ardent Leisure) should be applauded for the thoughtful and adaptive way they have developed and marketed Sea World, Warner Bros. Movie World, Wet 'n' Wild Waterworld, Dreamworld and its adjunct Whitewater World.
"Even though both groups have recorded significant increases in profits for the last financial year, operating theme parks in Australia is a precarious activity suited only to south-east Queensland - as witnessed by the closure at Sydney attractions Fox Studios, Sega World and Wonderland Sydney early in the last decade.
"With the growth of Asian leisure markets we now regularly learn about new theme park plans across Asia.
"As a result, where Asians used to travel to the Gold Coast to visit Australia's theme parks and attractions, with such attractions in their own countries, they are unlikely to do so again. Combined with the strength of the Australian dollar and the decline in domestic tourism, the attractions of the Gold Coast and indeed all of Australia, are going to have to be very imaginative in reaching new markets.
"The growth of the leisure market in Asia means a remarkable and bewildering array of new attractions are being built in Asia.
"As a result, where Asians used to travel to the Gold Coast to visit Australia’s theme parks and attractions, with such attractions in their own countries, they are unlikely to do so again. Combined with the strength of the Australian dollar and the decline in domestic tourism, the attractions of the Gold Coast and indeed all of Australia, are going to have to be very imaginative in reaching new markets.
"And with Asian attractions such as Singapore’s Resort World Sentosa (sited in a city that was a traditional stopover for Australians and New Zealanders travelling to Asia and beyond) attracting Australasian visitors you wonder whether Australia will ever again witness the development of another new theme park."
Click here to read Nigel Benton's Blog in full or contact Nigel on email: nigel@ausleisure.com.au
Images: Australia's Wonderland closed (top) and its Snowy River rider in operation (middle). Sydney's shortlived Sega World Darling Harbour, which operated from 1997 to 2000 (below).
18th August 2011 - TODD COATES TO HEAD ARDENT LEISURE THEME PARKS DIVISION
16th August 2011 - WILD LIFE SYDNEY TO LAUNCH AT SYDNEY’S DARLING HARBOUR
20th June 2011 - ASIAN ATTRACTIONS BOUNCE BACK AMID MIXED GLOBAL THEME PARKS PERFORMANCE
19th November 2010 - FORGET LEISURE: FOCUS ON THE EXPERIENCE INDUSTRY
13th September 2010 - VILLAGE ROADSHOW TO BUILD WET’N'WILD SYDNEY
29th April 2010 - GLOBAL STUDY SHOWS RESILIENCE IN THE THEME PARK INDUSTRY
10th September 2009 - WET’N'WILD IN TOP 10 OF WORLD WATERPARKS
18th March 2008 - DISNEY CONSIDERS SYDNEY DEVELOPMENT
About the author
Nigel Benton
Co-founder/Publisher, Australasian Leisure Management
Born in the English county of Dorset, Nigel Benton is the co-founder and Publisher of Australasian Leisure Management, Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific’s only magazine for professionals in all areas of the leisure industry and the www.ausleisure.com.au website - the go to news resource for industry leaders and professionals.
With a long-term commitment to communicating all that is best about the leisure industry (aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues) his career has been defined by an ability to develop and implement industry communications.
Starting his career working in heritage visitor attractions and then adventure travel in Africa and the Middle East, an interest in writing about his experiences led to his change of career into magazine journalism and publishing.
In addition to publishing, Nigel speaks on marketing communications at a range of industry events.
He was made a Life Member of the World Leisure and Recreation Association in 2006 and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (London).
In 2020, he launched the new Asian Leisure Business website.
As of October 2024, he was inducted into the Australian Fitness Awards Roll of Honour at the 2024 AUSactive National Awards.
Among a range of published works and features, his comments on a Blog (blogspot) from 2007 to 2011, when this website went live in its current form, may be interesting to reflect back on.
His philosophy on life is to be kind to all and to indulge those that you love.
His passions include family, Newcastle United and motorcycles (especially British ones) as well, until February 2025 when she left us, caring a little pug named Stella.
Click here to connect with him via LinkedIn.
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