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. Investment shifts and emerging opportunities
untapped markets. That’s not to say there aren’t opportunities out there (Houston, anyone?) and visitation at major parks is just one metric – there are many other attraction types available, making waves and driving the experience economy. The feature graphic on the next page examines key markets in the Americas (10 countries with markets large enough to assess economic impact including Dominican Republic, The Bahamas, Guatemala, USA, Mexico, Canada, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina & Chile), 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 In mature markets such as the U.S. and Canada, there is a continued focus on enhancing existing assets, while also driving innovation with new parks, experiences and concepts.
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, 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.
Dark Universe, Epic Universe
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. This third edition of The Experience Economist offers an exploration of the Americas, uncovering key trends, investment shifts, and emerging opportunities across the region. Spanning a vast and diverse geography, the Americas encompass both mature markets and those still in early stages of attractions development. Each presents its own mix of challenges and growth potential - dynamics we unpack throughout this edition. Diverse maturity across region The Americas present diverse and evolving opportunities across the attractions industry. In
mature markets such as the U.S. and Canada, there is a continued focus on enhancing existing assets, while also driving innovation with new parks, experiences and concepts. Mexico and countries in Central and South America remain high opportunity areas for new attraction development given the size of their markets, but the investment needs to be balanced with income and spending levels. At LDP, our experience across a wide range of markets enables us to apply a global perspective while remaining sensitive to local dynamics, helping clients make informed, market- appropriate development decisions. Between 2010 and 2023, the top 20 theme parks in the Americas grew by an average of 1.2 percent, just below Europe (1.3 percent) and economic powerhouse Asia (3.3 percent). The lower rate of growth is expected in more mature areas, and the U.S. is incredibly mature in terms of theme park development, with very few
252k total employment impact US$53bn total economic impact
2 THE EXPERIENCE ECONOMIST: AMERICAS EDITION 2025 | © LDP
THE EXPERIENCE ECONOMIST: AMERICAS EDITION 2025 | © LDP 3
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