ArticlesMichael SwitowAustralia, Songcheng, Warner Bros. Movie World, Village Roadshow, Australian Legends World, Actventure, Sanad Capital, Odyssey Park, Worlds of Wonder, Legoland Discovery Centre, Merlin Entertainment, AALARA, Scenic World, Jamberoo Action Park, Adventure World, Discovery Holiday Parks, Aussie World, Steven Wu, Bob White, Bradley Sutherland, Ammar Khan, David Bakas, Bob Graham, China Time, Kristy Brown, Dax Eddy, Anthea Hammon

The Next Australian Attractions Boom

ArticlesMichael SwitowAustralia, Songcheng, Warner Bros. Movie World, Village Roadshow, Australian Legends World, Actventure, Sanad Capital, Odyssey Park, Worlds of Wonder, Legoland Discovery Centre, Merlin Entertainment, AALARA, Scenic World, Jamberoo Action Park, Adventure World, Discovery Holiday Parks, Aussie World, Steven Wu, Bob White, Bradley Sutherland, Ammar Khan, David Bakas, Bob Graham, China Time, Kristy Brown, Dax Eddy, Anthea Hammon
The Next Australian Attractions Boom

Despite a challenging year that has seen the profits of Australia’s biggest attractions companies take a major hit, a number of high-profile investments, by newcomers and established players alike, point to an attractions industry poised for significant growth.

More than US$2 billion in new projects are in the pipeline, while existing venues are spending aggressively to expand and introduce headline-generating rides.  The largest projects are being financed by Asian and Middle Eastern investors with local ties to the community.

“Australia is a multicultural country with beautiful sceneries and unparalleled tourism resources,” exclaims Songcheng’s Steven Wu, who is leading his company’s first-ever venture outside China.

“We feel very strongly that Australia is a great place to do business,” adds Bob White, a 40-year attractions industry expert who oversees more than half a dozen attractions including Warner Bros. Movie World, Sea World and Wet'n'Wild as chief operating officer of Village Roadshow.  “The demographics are fantastic, people make good money and we’re right next to the fastest growing economies in the world.  If you look at the long run, the future’s very bright.”

Australia welcomed 8.5 million international visitors in the year ending June 2017, up nearly nine percent.   Overseas travellers spent A$40.6 billion (about US$34 billion).  New Zealand and China are by far the largest markets.  At the same time, Australia’s economy has been growing consistently for more than 25 years, the longest streak without a recession of any developed economy. 

These figures help explain why companies like Chinese giant Songcheng are bullish on building down under. 

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A design drawing of Songcheng's Australian Legends World, slated to open in 2019. The project is Songcheng's first outside of China.

A design drawing of Songcheng's Australian Legends World, slated to open in 2019. The project is Songcheng's first outside of China.

A version of this article was originally published in IAAPA's Funworld Magazine.