Dubai Parks and Resorts received 851,000 visitors during the first quarter of 2018, a 45% increase on the same period the previous year.
DXB Entertainments
, owner and operator of Dubai Parks and Resorts, released the figures as part of its quarterly reporting. The attendance also marks an increase of 55,000 visits compared to the last quarter of 2017.
Mohamed Almulla, CEO of DXB Entertainments, said, “We are pleased to have grown our first quarter visitation by 45% when compared to the same period last year, a clear sign our new strategy is delivering results. Visitor numbers are steadily increasing as we continue to focus on our core markets of GCC residents, annual pass holders and international visitation.
“It is important to note that in a normal annual cycle the fourth quarter should deliver the highest visitor numbers as it is the peak tourist season for the city of Dubai and therefore quarter-on-quarter improvement is a further sign of our continued growth.”
Almulla added that DXB expects the second quarter of 2018 to deliver lower visitation due to the hotter weather.
Last month, the company restructured its debt and reduced visitor number targets in the light of poorer than anticipated attendance figures of 2.3 million visitors in 2017. DXB reported revenue for 2017 of Dhs552m ($150m) which fell well short of the full-year target of almost Dhs2.447bn ($666m).
The Dubai Parks and Resorts complex opened in 2016 on a phased basis. Visitors gained access to the final rides and attractions in the fourth quarter of 2017, generating record attendance with 796,000 visits.
Dubai Parks and Resorts is a 2.3 million sqm family entertainment destination comprising three theme parks – Motiongate Dubai, Bollywood Parks Dubai and Legoland Dubai – as well as the region’s first Legoland Water Park.
The parks are linked by Riverland Dubai, a dining, entertainment and retail district featuring the Lapita Hotel. Six Flags Dubai will be the destination’s fourth theme park opening in late 2019.
