3 ways theme parks can innovate

Journey has seen a resurgence in 2022, as US shoppers have been wanting to get out of the home and head to the seashore, go to household, and take longer journeys. However theme parks haven’t seen the identical stage of resurgence as the remainder of the journey sector. Whereas People have been wanting to journey to seashore locations, go to household, and take different journeys, theme parks as a trip vacation spot has fallen considerably by the wayside. In accordance with Mintel analysis, simply 34% of shoppers say {that a} theme park trip is amongst their prime 5 trip priorities within the coming 12 months. To compete within the coming years, theme parks must innovate with a view to make themselves extra interesting to vacationers. 

These are three improvements undertaken by business leaders that we may even see within the coming years:

Online game IPs

Disneyland set the bar a long time in the past by making a theme park centered round their film and tv properties, a mannequin that has been repeated numerous occasions since. Within the 21st century, extra cutting-edge parks will incorporate online game franchises into their choices. Mintel analysis exhibits 39% of individuals contemplating a theme park trip wish to see extra online game IP in parks, second solely to film IP (47%). Common Studios Hollywood is forward of the sport right here, with their Tremendous Nintendo World park opening in early 2023.

Supply: Common Studios

Fashionable eating sensibilities

Carnival-style meals now not satisfies the appetites of the trendy theme park visitor. Current Mintel knowledge exhibits that 72% of these contemplating a park trip say that they wish to see extra restaurant-style eateries at parks, and menus that accommodate a wide range of dietary choices, resembling vegan and gluten-free. Mealtime is seen as a respite from a busy day working across the park, so a sit-down restaurant expertise has attraction as a approach for parkgoers to catch their breath throughout a busy go to.

Parks will help planners earlier than they even arrive

About half (49%) of individuals take into account a theme park trip exhausting to plan, at the same time as parks launch extra companies like Disney’s Genie+ to schedule their journey. As a substitute of planning theme park holidays by themselves, 55% of potential parkgoers really feel {that a} park’s fan neighborhood is useful in planning a go to. By being extra concerned with their parks’ fan communities, park operators can leverage the information of the group, and turn into a extra useful asset to people who really feel overwhelmed when planning a visit. 

What we predict 

Theme parks will proceed to face stiff competitors from different locations as a trip possibility within the close to future. To extend their attraction amongst these potential high-dollar guests, parks might want to innovate each inside and out of doors of the gates with a view to entice extra trendy vacationers.

For extra info on our journey and tourism market analysis, please click on right here.