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Amusement Parks and Centres Operation in Australia - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Callum Francis Callum Francis Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: February 2024 ANZSIC R9131

Revenue

$1.9bn

2024-25

$2.0bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XX.Xm

Employees

9,253

Businesses

1,124

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Amusement Parks and Centres Operation in Australia industry analysis

Over the past five years, the Amusement Parks and Centres Operation industry has declined at an average annual rate of 1.2%. The COVID-19 pandemic and related travel restrictions from March 2020 to February 2022 led to a sharp drop in domestic and international tourist activity. Visitor numbers at popular theme parks collapsed. Without sufficient turnover, most businesses in the industry struggled to cover their fixed costs and profit margins dropped across the board. Despite these challenges, the industry managed to maintain stability in its employment and establishment numbers, largely due to government aid that enabled businesses to retain their workforce. As lockdown restrictions started to ease, the amusement park industry began to show signs of revival, primarily fuelled by a surge in tourism. A noteworthy rebound in tourist numbers following two years of economic downturn has fostered a bounce back in industry revenue to near pre-pandemic levels. This renaissance has helped to recover profit margins to a reasonable level.

Trends and Insights

  • The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted the amusement parks and centres, leading to significant revenue declines and reduced profit margins. Despite easing restrictions and subsequent heightened demand, businesses continue to face challenges in regaining their customer base.
  • Industry revenue is supported mostly by domestic visitors under 40, as amusement parks appeal to children and their families. Recovering international tourism has supported international visitor numbers.
  • Queensland is Australia’s theme park capital. The most well-known theme parks in the country are located on the Gold Coast.
  • The industry faces many substitutions through the many alternative entertainment sources at cheaper prices. However, theme parks and amusement centres are able to offer experiences that entertainment cannot replicate, somewhat limiting substitutions.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 1.2 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $1.9bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic were large and widespread across the industry

  • This industry was identified as one of the industries hit hardest following restrictions on tourism and countrywide lockdowns because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This led to a significant revenue slump in 2020-21 and 2021-22.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Amusement Parks and Centres Operation in Australia
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Consistent revenue growth is likely amid a tourism boom

  • Australia’s Amusement Parks and Centres Operation industry is poised for dynamic growth in the coming years, with a projected rise in household income and an ongoing recovery in international tourist numbers positioning the industry for success.

Biggest companies in the Amusement Parks and Centres Operation in Australia

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Ardent Leisure
72.9
Village Roadshow
338.0
Merlin Entertainments Australia
54.7

To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Amusement Parks and Centres Operation in Australia
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Admissions and services, Rides and Food and beverages. Admissions and services is the largest segment of the Amusement Parks and Centres Operation in Australia.

Trends and Insights

Ticket discounts are eroding admissions and services’ revenue share

  • The industry's largest segment includes admission to amusement or theme parks and other industry locations, with service fees to amusement venues forming the largest product segment.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Amusement or theme parks offer attractions such as mechanical rides, water slides, games, shows and theme exhibits. They also lease venue space for other businesses to operate attractions or provide services (such as selling food) on a concession basis. Amusement arcades, centres or parlours are permanently located in the venues and offer many coin-operated games, such as pinball.

What's included in this industry?

Admissions and servicesRidesFood and beveragesMerchandiseCoin-operated machinesAmenities, facility hire and functions

Companies

Ardent LeisureVillage RoadshowMerlin Entertainments Australia

Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

THEME RIDESTHRILL RIDESESCAPE ROOMS

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 9131 - Amusement Parks and Centres Operation in Australia

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted the amusement parks and centres, leading to significant revenue declines and reduced profit margins. Despite easing restrictions and s...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Industry revenue is supported mostly by domestic visitors under 40, as amusement parks appeal to children and their families. Recovering international tourism has supported i...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Queensland is Australia’s theme park capital. The most well-known theme parks in the country are located on the Gold Coast.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

The industry faces many substitutions through the many alternative entertainment sources at cheaper prices. However, theme parks and amusement centres are able to offer exper...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Village Roadshow’s parent company, BGH Capital, is looking to refinance its investment following the industry’s recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic. The private equity compa...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Ardent Leisure's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Village Roadshow's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Merlin Entertainments Australia's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Ardent Leisure, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Village Roadshow, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Merlin Entertainments Australia, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Demand for amusement parks and centres is highly influenced by domestic and international tourism. The return of international visitors has helped the industry recover after ...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Wage costs have stabilised after peaking during the COVID-19 outbreak, helping to boost profitability. Recovering revenue has prevented wage costs from eating into profit mar...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Amusement Parks and Centres Operation industry in Australia in 2024?

The market size of the Amusement Parks and Centres Operation industry in Australia is $1.9bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Amusement Parks and Centres Operation in Australia industry in 2024?

There are 1,124 businesses in the Amusement Parks and Centres Operation industry in Australia, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.3 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Amusement Parks and Centres Operation industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Amusement Parks and Centres Operation industry in Australia has been declining at a CAGR of 1.2 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Amusement Parks and Centres Operation industry in Australia over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Amusement Parks and Centres Operation industry in Australia is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Amusement Parks and Centres Operation market in Australia?

The biggest companies operating in the Amusement Parks and Centres Operation market in Australia are Ardent Leisure, Village Roadshow and Merlin Entertainments Australia

What does the Amusement Parks and Centres Operation in Australia include?

Admissions and services and Rides are part of the Amusement Parks and Centres Operation industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Amusement Parks and Centres Operation in Australia?

The company holding the most market share in Australia is Ardent Leisure.

How competitive is the Amusement Parks and Centres Operation industry in Australia?

The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Amusement Parks and Centres Operation industry in Australia.

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Competitors

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Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Australia include:

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics
  • Australian Taxation Office
  • Australian Securities & Investments Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.