Theme Parks Eliminating Discounts is Good News for the Timeshare and Travel Industry June 7, 2011
Posted by John Stephens in : News & Events, Travel , add a commentOne way you can tell that the economy is rallying back in the tourism industry is when the theme parks begin to take back their generosity.
SeaWorld made a couple of announcements in the last few days that indicate they are trying to get back to normal with their pricing structure. The first was when SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay announced they are ending a ticket promotion that allows Florida and Georgia residents buying one-day tickets to keep coming back for the rest of the year, according to a report in the Florida Today. The move comes as both parks try to capitalize on improving attendance and a wave of new attractions, including the new $40 million Cheetah Hunt roller coaster in Busch Gardens.
This hits the drive-to market right between the eyes and is a bold move considering the drive market was their bread and butter market during the recession as visitors looked for ways to reduce vacation costs. The incentive was used to get people within easy driving distance to attend the parks, even if it was just for a day trip. The removal of this incentive indicates that the parks are concentrating more on longer stays now that travel numbers to Orlando are at record levels, with over 50 million visitors to Orlando last year.
And longer, multiple overnight stays means visitors will be looking for accommodation, especially timeshare rentals.
Just a few days later, SeaWorld announced a hike for the price of its two-day combo ticket to $119.99 per adult, according to the Orlando Sentinel. That’s up four percent from the $114.99 it had been charging for tickets good at SeaWorld Orlando plus either the Aquatica water park or Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.
Now, you may be thinking “great, prices are going up at the worst time.” But this is actually good news for the industry as more travellers, and a tourism industry back to normal, is not only good for the economy but creates the confidence in tourism operators to develop new products and grow the industry again. The flow-on effect for the timeshare industry will mean more people in resorts and lead to the type of refurbishment and new development needed to keep the timeshare industry moving in the right direction.
But, if prices are beginning to rise, now is the best time to buy timeshare or rent timeshare, especially now that summer is here. Don’t wait on the sidelines while the inventory gets snapped up. Check the deals on the BuyaTimeshare.com website by clicking here.