In all other countries in Europe, amusement parks are open. But in Sweden they will have to remain closed – and thus lose at least five million visitors and just over a billion in reduced profits during the year, according to a new forecast.
On Friday morning, the government announced: there may be an exception to the limit on public gatherings of 50 people, but nothing that includes amusement parks.
”"We respect that some people got into trouble when restrictions were introduced quickly, but now they have had several months to do something about it," says Christer Fogelmarck, CEO of Parks and Resorts - owner of Gröna Lund, Skara Sommarland, Kolmården and Furuvik.
The Swedish Amusement Park Association sent a request to the government in early July asking for 1.5 billion kronor in compensation for the parks not being allowed to open. There has been no response, and there is great concern for the future.
”"Now we are afraid that there will be no Halloween, which is an important season for many of us. Nor will there be any Christmas markets, which are enormously important, not least for Liseberg," says Christer Fogelmarck.
The amusement park association now has has made new forecasts for how big this year's loss will be. For Liseberg, this is 2.5 million missed visitors and 508 million kronor in lost profit compared to last year. For Parks and Resorts, the loss will be 2.4 million visitors and 455 million kronor.
”"Theme parks are the engines of the local tourism industry, now there are five million people who do not eat at a restaurant, stay at a hotel, or stop at a gas station," says Christer Fogelmarck, who also sits on the board of the Swedish Amusement Park Association.
In practice, Swedish amusement parks have now had no revenue since the fall of 2019, according to Fogelmarck.
”Now it doesn't look like there won't be any revenue until spring 2021 – or maybe spring 2022,” he says.
How serious is the situation for you?
”"The industry is in acute economic crisis. All other countries in Europe have opened their amusement parks. Sweden is completely unique in keeping them closed."”
Is there any risk to the companies' survival?
”"When it comes to Liseberg and Parks and Resorts, there is no risk that the companies will not survive - provided that we receive financial support and are allowed to be open next year. But the smaller players should be worried about. Those who can are allowed to borrow at high interest rates that will be amortized in the coming years."”
Parks and Resorts is not alone in being disappointed after the government's announcement on Friday. Liseberg announced shortly afterwards that there will be no Halloween celebration at the amusement park this year.
”"It is difficult to interpret the government's information today in any other way than that there are no conditions for us to open," says Andreas Andersen, CEO of Liseberg, to GP.
Corrected: In a previous version, there was incorrect information about the deterioration in results for the amusement parks and an incorrect amount for the deterioration in results for Parks and Resorts.
Source: TT
SWEDISH AMUSEMENT PARKS
According to the industry organization Swedish Amusement Park Association, its members have over 6 million visitors per year. The data is from 2019.
The amusement parks had a turnover of just over 2 billion SEK and had almost 7,000 employees.
The Swedish Amusement Park Association includes Astrid Lindgren's World, Parken Zoo, Kolmården, Furuvik, Liseberg, Gröna Lund and Skara Sommarland.
Source: Swedish Amusement Park Association
