Global attractions industry faces volatile 2025 amid weather uncertainty

Climate change is increasingly influencing the sector’s evolution

Several trends emerged thus far in 2025 according to IAAPA report:

Unfavorable weather has defined 2025. Many operators report that the spring months proved wet and unseasonably cool, discouraging guest visitation. By contrast, the early summer months proved exceedingly hot, which also had a negative effect on visitation.
Uncertainty in the economy and politics also affected consumer sentiment, as guests adopted a “wait and see” mentality before committing to a visit.
While tariffs remain a concern, many manufacturers are optimistic for the years ahead. Orders for new equipment to be delivered in 2027 and beyond are strong.

By regions, the attractions industry saw the following evolution.

Asia-Pacific

Professionals in the region kicked off the year feeling encouraged about performance. However, members in the Asia-Pacific region are now concerned with slowing growth across many economic markets. In China, as the real estate market is flat, so is the consumer price index. Thus, potential guests are content to save their money and are opting for nature walks, city tours, and quiet places to cool down.

While the volume of visiting guests is encouraging, the time they are spending inside the gate is lower from previous years. Wet weather has negatively impacted attendance levels, with China seeing more than a dozen typhoons. Each storm can shutter a park for days to follow as the team’s clean-up efforts commence.

For island nations in the Pacific, the weather has also proved wet, limiting attendance at outdoor attractions, while indoor facilities have fared better. Guests of island nations have embraced water parks, and thus, operators look to add more in the years ahead. In western Asia, the indoor facility sector is growing faster than traditional outdoor amusement parks, particularly near urban centers in India.

Europe, Middle East, Africa

Members in southern European nations report a challenging year to date but share that 2025 has performed better than 2024. Unlike other regions, the weather has cooperated with summer visitation. In Scandinavia, some operators report that while attendance was flat, in-park spending rose above 2024 levels, with cash flow proving strong. Many are hopeful for a strong 2026.

In the Middle East, there are opportunities for young people to immerse themselves in the attractions landscape with new attractions. Many guests opt to stay inside during the summer months and look to experience outdoor attractions in the winter, when temperatures are more bearable. The Middle East region is expected to continue as a leading growth market, as more attractions are planned.

Latin America, Caribbean

In Latin America/the Caribbean, operators in Mexico report a banner year to date for indoor attractions. In contrary, outdoor facilities have suffered from great amounts of rain. Some operators caution that their autumn outlook may be tempered by a consumer decrease in disposable income that they enjoyed in previous years. Other Latin American countries report 2025 has produced decent results to date but are still under 2023’s robust performance levels. The threat of recession, inflation pressure, and political uncertainties are all cited as reasons for reduced footfall.

North America

In North America, operators refer to summer of 2025 as “unusual.” From weather patterns to attendance realization, the season differed from other operating periods. In parts of North America, some facilities saw colder temperatures early. Others experienced wet conditions as spring stretched into summer. Once the dry weather arrived, temperatures quickly turned unbearably hot. The extreme swing kept many would-be visitors home and prompted some operators to call the weather patterns the worst in a decade.

Guests also showed a resistance to pricing strategies, making mid-season pivoting necessary through discounting. Once guests were inside attractions, they spent less, limiting incremental revenue. Political headlines and uncertainty over tariffs are also to blame for lackluster attendance.