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Looping Group acquires Aquapark Istralandia

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Aquapark Istralandia

Company adds popular Croatian water park to its portfolio

European park operator Looping Group has announced the acquisition of Croatia’s biggest water park, Aquapark Istralandia. Croatia is one of Europe’s biggest tourist destinations and the park in Istria attracts over 180,000 guests each year. Set on a site by the Adriatic Sea measuring over 8 hectares, it is home to six swimming pools and 17 water slides.

The park, which was the first water park in the country, dates back to 2014 and was built by the Kovačić family. They will stay in management positions following the acquisition, with Paolo and Mauro Kovačić keeping their current roles as directors.

Looping continues to expand

Aquapark Istralandia will be Looping’s first park in Croatia, and will become the 17th park in the group’s portfolio, taking its total visitor numbers to around 5.7 million visitors per year.

The venue will now become one of Looping’s flagship water parks. The move follows its acquisition of the UK’s Drayton Manor in 2020. The company’s aim is to become the European leader in the regional theme park sector. Recently, key members of the company’s management team spoke to blooloop about its strategy, in the wake of the pandemic. In total, Looping Group will invest around €30 million across its European park portfolio for 2022.

Looping Group was formed in 2011 when CEO Laurent Bruloy acquired seven parks from Compagnie des Alpes (CdA). The following year he added France’s Cobac Parc to the portfolio, and then the Spanish park Isla Magica in 2013. CdA sold its remaining 30% stake in the group in 2014.

Looping has since acquired several key properties including Bagatelle and Grand Aquarium de Saint-Malo in France, Avonturepark Hellendoorn in the Netherlands, Fort Fun in Germany, and Portugal’s Parque Aquático de Amarante. In the UK, it operates West Midland Safari Park and Pleasurewood Hills, as well as Drayton Manor.

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charlotte coates

Charlotte Coates

Charlotte Coates is blooloop's editor. She is from Brighton, UK and previously worked as a librarian. She has a strong interest in arts, culture and information and graduated from the University of Sussex with a degree in English Literature. Charlotte can usually be found either with her head in a book or planning her next travel adventure.

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