The Experience Economist is a brand-new series of industry publications from Leisure Development Partners (LDP), the leading firm in visitor attractions economics and strategy. Expert analysis and insights
ratio of visits per population and stronger spends ensure a very significant economic impact of €17 billion. We estimate that Europe’s impact per visit is 65% above that in Asia, and impact per resident is 5 times greater. Given the breadth of leisure options available, this underscores the vital role of the industry in Europe’s economies. Our feature graphic examines the key European markets, comparing relative population sizes, incomes, theme park and waterpark visitation levels, economic impact, jobs created, and future growth. The outcomes reveal the relative development levels of each country and the corresponding opportunities they create. 174m annual theme park and waterpark visits 325 amusement/theme park & waterpark visits per 1,000 residents We estimate that there are approximately 174 million theme park and waterpark visits each year, which translates to 325 visits per 1,000 residents.
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 1,000 projects, LDP provides trusted, bankable analysis across theme parks, water parks, 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.
Europa Park, Germany
This series explores the volume, value, and impact of the global theme park and visitor attractions industry, providing expert analysis and insights into the forces shaping the market. The Europe edition of The Experience Economist offers an in-depth exploration of Europe, uncovering key trends and emerging opportunities across the region. Europe boasts very mature markets in the west, and some up and coming markets towards the east. Whilst in emerging markets the gaps seem more obvious across all sectors, viability is often challenging due to lower income levels. Scaling to the market opportunity becomes key to financial success. Maturity, on the other hand, indicates spending power and often highlights potential. The challenge for developers and investors is to seek out gaps and leverage the wealthy resident bases and
strong tourist economies. LDP have been assisting in both for over 15 years. Europe on path of recovery Between 2010 and 2023, the top 20 theme parks across Europe grew by an average 1.3%, similar to North America and 2.5 times below Asia. Tourism volumes have recovered or are on the path to pre-Covid levels in most countries, although in some markets stay- cation has stepped in where international visitation struggled to bounce back. We estimate that there are approximately 174 million theme park and waterpark visits each year, which translates to 325 visits per 1,000 residents. While the total visitation is nowhere near that in Asia, the high
€17bn total economic impact 157k total employment impact
2 THE EXPERIENCE ECONOMIST: EUROPE EDITION 2025 | © LDP
THE EXPERIENCE ECONOMIST: EUROPE EDITION 2025 | © LDP 3
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