Last year’s visitor numbers make the Cedar Fair Group the fourth largest operator of Theme- and Waterparks in the world. It was only in June 2006 that Cedar Fair bought Paramount Parks for around 1.2 billion USD (as reported in EAP). The New York (...) read more
Following the authorisation by the EU competition authorities, the fusion announced in March between Merlin Entertainments Group and The Tussauds Group was completed on the 22nd of May 2007. This consolidation formed the second largest operator of (...) read more
X-GARDEN, a family centre specially geared to the needs of children and women, will be opening this September. Women and kids, the centre point of the concept, can indulge themselves at the 10,000-sqm large facility – a combination of shopping, (...) read more
On the 25th of May 2007, “Dickens World” in Chatham, just southeast of London, opened its doors. The theme park is housed in a specially constructed building where the characters from Dickens’ (1812-1870) books and era come to life: The orphan (...) read more
With the purchase of an 11-square kilometre site with a number of old buildings, a medieval castle, a hotel, 18-hole golf course and meadows, TUI is planning the largest tourism project in Tuscany and in the company’s history. For this unique (...) read more
Last year saw the inauguration of the “Fisser Flieger” in the Möser alp, which we covered in detail in issue 5/2006. This summer funpark on a mountain plateau 2,000 metres above sea level is to acquire another attraction in mid-July: Skyswing (...) read more
“Vilvite” (literally “want to know”) science centre was opened at the end of May in the Norwegian Hanseatic city of Bergen. It features 75 exhibits housed in a space of 1,700 square metres covering the topics of climate, sea and energy. Visitors (...) read more
“Hankatten” is the name of the new spinning coaster from Gerstlauer Amusement Rides for Bonbon-Land in Holme-Ostrup, Denmark. This spinning coaster is the first of its kind in Europe and is sure to be a hit with the whole family. According to (...) read more
At the start of this year’s season, Italy’s largest theme park opened a new 4D cinema from 3DBA & Kraftwerk Living Technologies. The new attraction is integrated in the Egyptian themed area, beneath Gardaland Theatre that was constructed in 2006. It (...) read more
Friedrichshafen’s exhibition centre is transferring the two trade fairs “Play & Leisure” and “Camp Ground” to the Stuttgart exhibition centre. Both fairs were to have taken place at Lake Constance in October 2007. “Play & Leisure”, an international (...) read more
At the opening of the 33rd “pink weeks” at Holiday Park in Hassloch/Pfalz, patron Roswitha Beck thanked Holiday Park for its many years of voluntary support. Fifteen thousand visitors from children’s homes and disabled peoples’ homes, special (...) read more
The film architect and stage builder of Europa Park, Ulrich Damrau, passed away on the 25th of May at the age of 92. For over 25 years he was not only responsible for the creative realisation of the European theme concept at Europa Park, but was (...) read more
In Hong Kong's restaurants and eateries, the (disciplined and educative) idea of a local gastronome has attracted a great deal of both sympathy and controversy. As recently reported in the “Christian Science Monitor”, diners who take more from the (...) read more
The large “Ferrari World Theme Park” project on Al Yas Island went into the final stages of construction at the end of last year. With an area space of 2.5 million square metres, the island is one of the largest natural islands in the Emirates. The (...) read more
Pierre & Vacances, owner of Center Parcs Europe, is to take over the four three- and four-star holiday parks from the Belgian Sunpark Group. These are two holiday parks on the North Sea, one resort in the Ardennes and one in Campine with a total (...) read more
Bavarian therapeutic spas are facing the challenges of the future with investments totalling over 400 million euros. With these investments, the facilities aim to position themselves as modern centres of competence for healthcare and preventative (...) read more
Busch Gardens is one of the USA's most important theme parks and has already received a number of awards. Big Ben and the Eiffel Tower are two highlights at this park which shows its visitors all sorts of typical European sights. It brings visitors (...) read more
This Easter, the first indoor half pipe to meet international FIS standards was opened at the Snow Funpark in Wittenburg, one of Europe's largest such facilities. The half pipe is 130 metres long, 18 metres wide and has an 18-degree slope. This (...) read more
On the 12th of April things had finally reached the point where the Mayor of Gelsenkirchen, Frank Baranowski, with considerable support from the managing director of the “Gesellschaft für Energie und Wirtschaft GmbH” (company for energy and (...) read more
Brandenburg's Minister for Economic Affairs, Ulrich Junghanns, recently awarded the 2007 state award for tourism. The prize is awarded for creativity in tourism services in Brandenburg. The EWA member company TURM Erlebniscity from Brandenburg was (...) read more
