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This isn't really a surprise, the poor weather conditions in Belgium have not really been up to the expectations of theme parks operators since the beginning of the season in April!
A cloudy sky, heavy rains and temperatures below average are indeed frequent this recent weeks... A situation which is totally the opposite of the start of 2011 season where the sun and even hot temperatures had led to attendance records for most of theme parks in the country.
If one can not really avoid the raindrops, however, some Belgian operators believe that media are generally too pessimistic when they announce the weather reports with consequently a decline in visitors and a loss of turnover. Walibi Belgium (owned by Compagnie des Alpes) and the Wildlife park Paira Daiza have decided to launch an original action by asking the media to present their weather reports with a little more optimism. They are followed in this initiative by Plopsa Group (operator of Plopsaland De Panne, Plopsa Coo and Plopsa Indoor Hasselt), Bobbejaanland (Parque Reunidos) and Bellewaerde Park (Compagnie des Alpes).
In concrete terms, theme parks operators request that each weather report to be more faithful to reality with more complete information and a vocabulary less pessimistic and redundant. As an example, weather forecast announcements in Belgium focus regularly on the rain periods while a study of IRM (the Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium) shows that periods without rain are more numerous in the country (eg: more than 90% in June).
"Incomplete and unfairly pessimistic weather reports may affect over 50% of the daily attendance of outdoor attractions. Repercussions represent a loss of hundreds of thousands of euros per day for the sector " explain Walibi Belgium and Pairi Daiza in a formal statement. "Another disadvantage is that these weather forecasts have the effect to concentrate the influx of visitors on a small number of days during a season with as a result a congestion and a less confortable visit for them. At least, it is clear that these pessimistic weather reports encourage Belgian to leave the country far from our attractions. This of course has a direct impact on tourism, a major economic sector in our country!"
This symbolic statement at least has the merit of having been widely broadcasted in the national press, exactly as a similar initiative conducted by Belgian seaside resorts a few days earlier. But it is unclear whether this will really influence how media describe their weather reports...
A lull of the weather is expected this late in July. A news that could bring smiles to the Belgian theme parks operators for which quarter of the summer season is already over...
NewsParcs will do a full coverage of the IAAPA Attractions Expo 2013 in Orlando to have a look at the latest trends and developments of the global theme park industry.
