The economic slowdown and fewer-than-expected visitors in 2016 will make it tough for Dubai theme parks this year.
According to The National, analysts warn that many parks may struggle to reach projected attendance figures.
Theme parks such as DBX Entertainments’ Dubai Parks and Resorts and IMG Worlds of Adventure are upgrading their attractions and slashing ticket prices in a bid to boost numbers.
The National reports that Mohammad Kamal, an analyst with financial services company, Arqaam Capital, described 2017 as a ‘decisive year’ for the DBX Entertainments brand.
Kamal reports that attendance in the last two months of last year fell 40 per cent to 50 per cent short of expectations, along with the reported average spend per visitor.
Despite this pessimism, Colliers International predicts that theme park attendance in the UAE will approach 19 million by 2020. This is up from 3.7 million in 2015.
2017 will be a decisive year.
Image courtesy IMG Worlds of Adventure
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https://www.thenational.ae/business/travel-tourism/theme-parks-set-for-critical-year
