The fact that Sweden's amusement parks are not allowed to open this summer is in practice a business ban, according to the parks, who are now requesting a total of 1.5 billion kronor in state compensation from the government.
”We are on the brink of ruin,” says Magnus Widell, CEO of Gröna Lund and chairman of the Swedish Amusement Park Association.
It's quiet at Liseberg, Gröna Lund and Skara Sommarland.
The amusement parks waited until the last moment, prepared to open with a plan to minimize the risk of spreading the infection. Just over two weeks ago, the news came: amusement parks are not exempt from the ban on public gatherings and public events with more than 50 participants.
”"It is irresponsible for the government to give us a business ban without coming up with any idea of help. We are left with nothing. It is an impossible situation," says Magnus Widell, CEO of Gröna Lund and chairman of the Swedish Amusement Park Association.
Now the Swedish Amusement Park Association is requesting compensation from the state totaling 1.5 billion SEK for lost revenue during the summer months.
”We have income for about three months a year, but expenses for 12 months. It’s money we live on when we have no income from autumn to winter.”
The government's transition support is based on March and April and does not cover the theme parks' summer months, he points out. There will also be no compensation from insurance companies, since it is the Public Order Act and not the Infection Control Act that is used to limit gatherings.
”"We are on the brink of ruin. We need to borrow money to get through this crisis," says Widell.
Amusement parks' fairground entertainment falls under the Public Order Act and the Ordinance on Public Gatherings and Public Events. This means that, for example, Liseberg, Gröna Lund and Skara Sommarland are closed while Kolmården, Astrid Lindgren's World and Furuvik are open to some extent.
For Liseberg, this is a loss of 99 percent of this year's turnover compared to last year, almost 819 million kronor. And for the Parks and Resorts group, which owns Gröna Lund, Skara Sommarland, Furuvik and Kolmården, it is a loss of 83 percent of turnover, just over 853 million kronor.
”We have cut our costs, stopped development projects, terminated contracts with local contractors and laid off all seasonal staff and a third of our permanent staff,” says Christer Fogelmarck, CEO of Parks and Resorts.
The ban in the Public Order Act on public gatherings treats amusement parks differently, he believes.
”"If you are subject to a permit, it makes no difference whether you have a small indoor clubhouse for concerts or if it is Skara Summerland outdoors on 400,000 square meters. It is too blunt and hits our businesses disproportionately hard."”
TT has contacted Minister of Industry, Trade and Industry Ibrahim Baylan for comment.
Source: TT
