The Experience Economist is a series of industry publications from Leisure Development Partners (LDP), the leading firm in visitor attractions economics and strategy. Key metrics and location highlights
Within our data, Brazil had the highest increase in visits, and we feature key projects throughout the region in this edition.
About Leisure Development Partners (LDP) Leisure Development Partners (LDP) is the global leader in visitor attraction economics and strategy, delivering data-driven insights that empower developers, operators, and investors to create successful, sustainable attractions anchored real estate. With a proven track record in 80+ countries and over 1000 projects, LDP provides trusted, bankable analysis across theme parks, waterparks, family entertainment centers, cultural attractions, and mixed-use destinations. Our expertise ensures clients make informed decisions that maximize visitation, revenue, and long-term growth. Our Core Services: • Market & Feasibility Studies - Evaluating demand, competitive positioning, and financial viability • Enhancement Strategy - Unlocking the potential of existing business, expanding, finding efficiencies through benchmarking • Economic Impact Assessments - Quantifying how attractions drive local economies and tourism • Strategic Planning & Business Modelling - Optimizing financial forecasts and operational strategies • Consumer & Competitive Insights - Identifying trends, visitor behaviours, and industry benchmarks • Development Advisory - Guiding investment decisions with expert intelligence • Due Diligence - Valuation insight, upside identification and business planning for buyers Backed by decades of experience, LDP’s insights shape the future of the global attractions industry - helping clients unlock opportunities, minimize risks, and create unforgettable experiences.
increase in visits, and we feature key projects throughout the region in this edition. The feature graphic on the next page examines key markets in the Americas, comparing relative population sizes, incomes, theme park and waterpark visitation levels, attractions spend per capita, economic impact, jobs created, and future growth. The results give insights into the relative stages of development of each region and what this implies for the opportunities within.
336m annual theme park and waterpark visits 384 amusement/theme park & waterpark visits per 1,000 residents 253k total employment impact US$55.4bn total economic impact
Credit: Therme Group
This second edition of The Experience Economist: Americas offers an update of key metrics and location highlights across the larger region, featuring Texas, Alberta Province and Brazil. We also explore the offering and impact of special programming at attractions globally, featuring Gaylord Resort’s Ice! on the cover and other seasonal and special events. The Americas: Market performance and development outlook The United States drives the Americas region in terms of theme and water park industry visits and economic impact. In 2025, these impacts remain relatively flat compared to 2024, with Universal Epic Universe’s approximately 4.0 million new visits generally balanced by decreases at other parks in the U.S. due
to various climate and economic challenges. In this edition we feature Texas as a location highlight in the U.S, driving new development, visits, spending and jobs across a range of attraction types. Mexico is the second largest contributor in terms of total impacts for the Americas region, though it saw a decline in total visits in 2025. Guatemala, Colombia and Chile each experienced an increase of theme and water park visits and impacts in the last year, and opportunities for development in Central and Latin America remain strong. LDP is actively working on projects in these countries, bringing traditional and new concepts to these largely underserved leisure markets. Brazil is a standout in 2025 performance and is the second largest market in terms of population in the Americas. Within our data, Brazil had the highest
2 THE EXPERIENCE ECONOMIST: AMERICAS EDITION 2026 | © LDP
THE EXPERIENCE ECONOMIST: AMERICAS EDITION 2026 | © LDP 3
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