CoasterBuzz Podcast #97 - December 10, 2007

posted Monday, December 10, 2007 8:26:52 PM by Jeff

Download... | 36:33 | 16.7 MB | Downloads: 978

Jeff, Mike and Pat review this week's news in the amusement industry.

  • The captive animal debate comes back with the death of another animal at the Georgia Aquarium.
  • Spy theme park in Spain? We'll see. Mike says the area is planned to be Europe's version of Las Vegas.
  • Ed Markey is at it again with his zany legislation to have the CPSC regulate the industry. The Washington Post says safety is "optional."
  • Hong Kong officials say their new Disneyland results were unsatisfactory. Jeff makes up words.
  • Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom accident victim walks for the first time after losing her feet. Someone is going to pay, regardless of negligence. We wish there were more details about the accident.
  • Ohio senator urges Cedar Fair to preserve Big Dipper. People keep suggesting "lifestyle" retail, but there already is a similar thing near by.
  • Jeff ponders if you can lump the Intamin milled track rides in with other wood coasters.
  • Post-baby making state with Mike.
  • Holiday parties.

Comments:

Martin Lewison | 12/14/2007 1:05 AM

First, I'm a recent listener (last 10 shows or so) and recent CoasterBuzz member. Love the show.

I just wanted to take issue with the comment in the last podcast that implied that Spain is not much of a tourist destination. I've only been to Spain once (I went to a conference in the Basque city of Vitoria-Gasteiz), but it sounded wrong to me because every European I've ever met has raved about Spain, as have many Americans I've spoken to.

So I went a-checking the latest data at the World Tourism Organization website (http://unwto.org/facts/eng/pdf/highlights/highlights_07_eng_lr.pdf), and I found that Spain is second only to France in the number of international visits, beating the U.S. (3rd in int'l. visitors) by 7.4 million international visits in 2006. For comparison, barely half as many international tourists visit the U.K. as visit Spain.

Spain's tourism also grew faster than that of the U.S. between '05 and '06: 4.5% growth in visits vs. 3.8% growth in U.S. visits.

In terms of revenue, only U.S. tourism generates more revenue than Spain, with France, Italy, and China taking the rest of the top 5 spots.

Anyway, keep podcasting during the off-season for those of us who need the fix. Looking forward to the Kennywood discussion.

Cheers,

Martin

Jeff | 12/14/2007 1:42 AM

No one was implying that it wasn't a tourist destination, only that it doesn't get the kinds of headlines the other European nations do.

Gonch | 12/14/2007 12:25 PM

It's still surprising to me. LIke Jeff said, I don't think the idea was that people don't go to Spain, but rather you never seem to hear about it.

Even still I would've never guessed it's that popular as a destination.

Martin Lewison | 12/15/2007 11:33 AM

Well, I guess they got a pretty big headline this week with the Parque Reunidos purchase of Kennywood Ent. Thanks, fellows.

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