Visitors numbers at Merlin Entertainments attractions in London remain down as a result of the 2017 terror attacks, the company has announced.
The impact is being felt in the company’s Midway division, which includes attractions such as Madam Tussauds, Sea Life aquariums and Dungeons. However, Merlin Entertainments stated that it remains confident in “a recovery over time” in a trading update.
Merlin added that its theme parks, which include Alton Towers and Thorpe Park, were trading in line with expectations despite the earlier Easter period and poor weather conditions.
The group also provided an update on its development programme, which has seen 644 accommodation rooms and one of nine new Midway attractions open, putting it on track.
Merlin Entertainments saw its revenue grow by 11.6% to $1.6bn in 2017, boosted by the success of its international Legoland theme parks. The company’s Midway Attractions business increased revenue by 5.7% to £656m in 2017, but it fell by 1.2% on a like-for-like basis as the operator opened six new Midway attractions during the year.
At the start of April, Merlin announced that it is investing nearly £30m ($42m) in the Midlands region of the UK, revamping existing attractions and developing two new ones.
The majority of the investment is being put into two new attractions that are set to open in Birmingham this year – The Bear Grylls Adventure and a Legoland Discovery Centre.
