2016年CRI Disney Inspires Theme Park Boom in China

 

Soon, Chinese customers won't have to travel abroad to experience the thrills at world-famous theme parks such as Disneyland and Legoland. Both are finding new homes in Shanghai later this year.

For many Chinese theme park visitors, they simply can't wait for the parks' doors to open.

"I really want to visit Universal Studios' theme park in Beijing.

I will definitely go the Shanghai Disneyland. I visited the Hong Kong Disneyland before. I grew up reading Disney stories so the park is packed with childhood memories.

I'd say Legoland. You can build lots of things with LEGO. If those can be part of a theme park, it'll be amazing."

Much of the anticipation¹ comes from the fact that more and more Chinese customers find theme park visits are increasingly affordable² and desirable.

A new industry report shows Chinese customers' demand for theme park visits is increasing, with per capita GDP exceeding 7-thousand U.S. dollars in 2015.

Tourism expert Liu Simin believes foreign entrants like Disney and Legoland will inspire a boom in China's theme park market.

"Domestic amusement parks such as Happy Valley, Fantawild and Chimelong are leading China's theme park market. The market is growing rapidly and the international brands are eyeing the growth part. I think domestic brands can learn a lot from international brands after they enter China."

Liu Simin also says Chinese theme parks need to work on their creativity and brand influence.

"In terms of IP creation, Chinese theme park operators still have a long way to go. Some Chimelong's new theme park projects in Zhuhai and northern Guangdong are using the "park plus resort" business mode, just like international brands. However, their scale and brand influence still lag behind."

The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions estimates that the number of theme park visits by Chinese customers will surpass 320 million a year by 2020, overtaking the figure in the United States.

The resurgence³ in the industry is said to be partially⁴ due to a change of heart by the Chinese government in 2013, when it lifted a ban on approvals for new theme park projects that had been imposed in 2011.

1 anticipation   

n.预期，预料，期望

参考例句：

• We waited at the station in anticipation of her arrival.我们在车站等着，期待她的到来。
• The animals grew restless as if in anticipation of an earthquake.各种动物都变得焦躁不安，像是感到了地震即将发生。

2 affordable   

adj.支付得起的，不太昂贵的

参考例句：

• The rent for the four-roomed house is affordable.四居室房屋的房租付得起。
• There are few affordable apartments in big cities.在大城市中没有几所公寓是便宜的。

3 resurgence   

n.再起，复活，再现

参考例句：

• A resurgence of his grief swept over Nim.悲痛又涌上了尼姆的心头。
• Police say drugs traffickers are behind the resurgence of violence.警方说毒贩是暴力活动重新抬头的罪魁祸首。

4 partially   

adv.部分地，从某些方面讲

参考例句：

• The door was partially concealed by the drapes.门有一部分被门帘遮住了。
• The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.警方设法恢复了平静，宵禁部分解除。