Skara Sommarland is closing down for the year. This decision comes after the park received no response from the government regarding whether they would be permitted to open the water park.
”It is an incredibly heavy announcement that we have to make today,” says the park's CEO Janne Nilsson.
The government's ban on more than 50 people gathering at public meetings and events has caused problems for several of Sweden's amusement parks. Skara Sommarland has appealed to be allowed to open with a limited number of guests.
As no decision has been forthcoming, the park has now decided to commence the process of shutting down operations for the year from Monday.
”It is extremely sad, especially as we had planned a year to open with two new attractions. With lots of summer workers who won't get jobs,” says Janne Nilsson.
He is disappointed that the government has not made a statement.
”I am, to put it mildly, disappointed that one cannot even get a notification that it's not possible. They haven't even responded to our request for eased restrictions for amusement parks.”
He informs that the park needs three weeks to be ready for visitors.
”We need time to train staff, fill and heat the pools. When the schools then open in mid-August, almost all guests disappear,” says Nilsson, who announces that he now needs to look into furlough possibilities.
According to the company, Skara Sommarland employs around 550 young seasonal workers each year, has 300,000 guests and a turnover of just over 110 million Swedish kronor.
Skara Sommarland is owned by Parks & Resorts, which also owns Kolmården Zoo and Gröna Lund. Kolmården Zoo has opened, but with restrictions and fewer visitors. Gröna Lund, however, has had to remain closed.
”However, we haven't set a date for when it's too late, as we can essentially open at any time,” says Annika Troselius, Head of Information at Parks & Resorts.
Skara Sommarland is the first amusement park to cancel its season, as, unlike Gröna Lund and Liseberg, they do not have an autumn to fall back on, says Nilsson.
”We had a plan together, on how we would do this safely with a limited number of guests present.”
Source: TT
