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Plopsa Group expects to reach soon the milestone
of 3 million visitors per year
Update : 09/08/13 - 11h00Published by François Mayné the 8 March 2013, New.
The Belgian group Plopsa, which operates five theme parks in Europe including Plopsaland De Panne and Holiday Park, said it has welcomed some 2.6 million visitors last season, a figure in slight decrease of 4% compared to the record attendance in 2011. Reason given: unfavorable weather conditions at the beginning of the summer period.
This is anyway the second best result in Plopsa's history and it is with confidence that the group has decided to invest several million euros to further develop its properties in 2013. "Our goal is to reach the milestone of 3 million visitors. To achieve this, we must continue to invest in our theme parks," said Steve Van den Kerkhof, CEO of Plopsa.
After having focused on Holiday Park last year, Plopsa devotes again the largest part of its investments to its main park Plopsaland in Belgium. The program include a new theater of 1,400 seats and a new themed area inspired by the animated series Vicky the Viking for a budget of around €12 million (approx $15.6 million).
The Vicky the Viking zone (budget: €5.5 million) will feature on 5 hectares (approx 12.3 acres) two new attractions - a Splash Battle from MACK Rides with water and fire effects 'Wickie The Battle' and a Disk'O Coaster from Zamperla 'La Grande Vague' - as well as two restaurants. Plopsa confirmed that the realization of the Viking village theming was entrusted to Neverland Themepark Projects and TAA Industries. The latter will notably be in charge of sculpting more than 2,500 sqm (approx 26,900 sqft) of artificial rocks.
The Plopsa Theatre (budget: €6 million), which is scheduled to open in mid-July, is part of the development of the main entrance. It will be located between the indoor themed zone Mayaland (opened in 2011) and the upcoming water park in front of a plaza which will benefit from new facilities including gardens and a large gazebo. Many shows featuring characters from Studio 100 (owner of Plopsa) will be presented daily.
In parallel, Plopsaland is going to invest €750,000 to create a second new themed area (inspired by another Studio 100 cartoon) around two existing attractions. Again, Neverland Themepark Projects will be responsible for theming.
The other properties of the group will also propose novelties in 2013. Plopsa Coo in the Belgian Ardennes will focus on its wildlife park with the acquisition of three large jeeps that will replace the existing train. "This change will make the course more dynamic and adventurous. Additionally, visitors will admire new animals including some boars, wolves and deer," explains Jean-Luc Bertrand, General Manager of Plopsa Coo.
The German park Holiday Park, whose roller coaster Expedition GeForce has been ranked once again as the best steel coaster in the world in an international survey, will continue the development of the outdoor themed area Mayaland with the opening of a restaurant.
Finally, the two small indoor parks Plopsa Indoor Hasselt and Plopsa Indoor Coevorden will add each a Zamperla's Fire Brigade and a track of small electric cars for a total investment of close to half a million euros.
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