Park News
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Aqualand expands
The Aspro Ocio Group has installed new attractions from Polin Waterparks & Pool Systems at two of its Aqualand waterparks in France. The venues in question are at St Cyr Sur Mer in the south of France and in Bassin d’Arcachon on the west coast. Both are the leading waterparks in their respective region.
Hybrid waterslides at Aqualand Bassin d'Arcachon
At Aqualand Bassin d’Arcachon, the new attraction comes in the shape of a pair of Polin’s Racer Hybrid waterslides, comprising two tube slides side by side that run out into different attractions. One ends with a bowl ride, or Space Boat as Polin calls it, while the other flows into a Turbolance boomerang slide, where riders are propelled uphill before rushing down over a bump and into a splash pool.
“We invested €1.5 million for our 2011 additions,” reveals Aqualand Bassin d’Arcachon manager Wilfrid Lenandais. “The new slides enhanced the adrenaline throughout the park. We are very satisfied with the new ride and our guests are just as happy.” Down at Aqualand St Cyr Sur Mer, situated between Marseilles and Toulon, the addition of a Black Hole Turbolance represents the first significant expansion for seven years. The new attraction, as the name suggests, is a combination of Polin’s Turbo Lance and Black Hole slides and has been supplied in a unique colour scheme.
Both sets of slides supplied to the Aqualand parks feature Polin’s RTM (Resin Transfer Molding) fibreglass finish, shiny on both the inside and outside.
Legoland Korea?
A Legoland park in Korea could be realised as part of Merlin Entertainments’ focus to develop new Legoland attractions in the Asia Pacific region. The global attractions giant is on course to open a Legoland Discovery Center “Midway” attraction next summer in Tokyo, followed by a full size Legoland Malaysia park in the autumn. Now it has reached principal agreements with the regional government and key potential private investors for a park in Korea, opening the way for more detailed negotiations. Work will now begin on detailed planning related to the potential new site in Chuncheon City in Gangwon province, South Korea, approximately 60km from Seoul. It is envisaged that funding would be a combination of local resources combined with direct investment from Merlin.
The location is in an area earmarked for major investment in tourism and commercial developments by the local authority and is well connected with roads, rail and infrastructure.
“More than that,” says a Merlin spokesperson, “it is in a spectacular natural
setting, providing an opportunity to create the first ever Legoland park on an island in a lake.” “The Asia Pacific region provides a great opportunity for Merlin’s continued development across our brands, but particularly Legoland,” adds John Jakobsen, Merlin’s managing director for Legoland parks. “We look forward to working with our potential partners and investors in Korea to take the project to a stage where we can put it forward to the Merlin Board for investment approval.“ Other potential sites in Asia-Pacific are reported to be under investigation.
SEPTEMBER 2011
ParkBloggin’ By Jeremy Reed
My mission at BALPPA
As the new chief executive of BALPPA, I am greatly looking forward to representing the interests of the UK private sector visitor attractions industry and to further pursue the association’s lobbying goals. Our diverse range of objectives all have our industry at heart and seek to ensure that the Government takes tourism seriously. In the coming months we hope to see the next stage of the Daylight Saving Bill as it is put through to committee stage. BALPPA has been instrumental in ensuring that this issue – providing an extra hour of daylight in summer by putting our clocks forward one hour (in line with other European countries) – was considered and has worked closely with Rebecca Harris MP on the preparation of her Private Members Bill. We are looking forward to submitting additional evidence to the committee in due course and hopefully welcoming a change that will benefit members significantly by extending the shoulder season and increasing tourism revenue. Reducing VAT on admission income for attractions in the UK will greatly benefit BALPPA members and level the playing field with our European competition. Two of our members, Bourne Leisure and Merlin Entertainments, have commissioned an updated study on the positive impact that this move would have on the attractions industry.
Currently
this study is being considered by the Treasury and we look forward to the response in the hope that the campaign will gain momentum as the study is distributed to politicians and interested parties. Many of our members will be greatly affected by the proposals to introduce Machine Games Duty (MGD) to replace Amusement Machine Licence Duty (AMLD) and VAT. This move will be especially damaging to vulnerable seaside family businesses as the tax will be applicable to pushers and cranes and will force mixed use businesses such as FECs and piers to become partially exempt from VAT. The additional administrative burden on small businesses and the disincentive to invest in new coin-op machines will undoubtedly penalise already struggling businesses. BALPPA has engaged Price Waterhouse Coopers to conduct a study on the impact of MGD and has submitted this with our consultation response to the Government. BALPPA members can greatly aid the effectiveness of the Associations lobby by engaging with their local member or parliament and responding to any media enquiries relating to the issue.
As the traditional summer season comes to a close, BALPPA is turning attention to engaging with members in two industry trade shows, both of which are organised by the industry for the industry. The European Attractions Show (EAS) is coming to London for the first time this month and BALPPA will have a space for members to touch base. Many of our trade associate members will be exhibiting and we look forward to a showcase of new products and a great seminar programme with contributions from our membership. In January, as well as looking forward to celebrating our 75th anniversary with a special dinner, we will be supporting the EAG Expo, now in its third year at ExCel in London. I look forward to meeting many of our members and learning about their businesses in the coming weeks and months at their own sites, the events listed above and at our Regional Meeting in the West Midlands in October.
BALPPA (British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions) will be exhibiting at Euro Attractions Show in London on booth #2015.
www.balppa.org 9
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