With over 3,000 amusement parks and a wealth of other attractions, China has become one o the world’s key tourism markets and the darling of Asia. Park World looks ahead to the first Asia Tourism Property & Attraction conference (ATPS), where operators, suppliers and investors will be able to learn also about the industry in China and beyond.

Following a very successful event last summer, consultant Vision XS is to stage another “Experience Conference” in England this July.

Adding new rides and features. Maintaining infrastructure. Delivering fresh experiences for guests. For owners and operators of attractions the world over, this “to do” list has one thing in common: It requires capital, lots of it. Curt Caffey offers one solution.

During his career in the amusement industry, Nick Farmer (left) has been a designer of attractions for amusement parks, aquariums, museums and science centres. Based in Leicester, England, for many years he headed up Farmer Studios but more recently began working almost on a freelance basis as Farmer Attraction Development. This has allowed him to combine roles such as a director of Wicksteed Park (UK) along with his ongoing design and consultancy work. Nick is now half way through his year as president of the TEA (Themed Entertainment Association), the first European to take the position. Here talks to Owen Ralph about the association and theming in general.

In 1958, at the dawn of the theme park era, Lawrence Ferlinghetti published a book of poetry which has since become a modern classic, entitled A Coney Island of the Mind. I purchased a copy because I mistakenly thought it was about Coney Island, then the Holy Grail of amusement parks.

Nickelodeon Universe has opened at the Mall of America, Bloomington, Minnesota. Formerly Camp Snoopy, the re-branded seven-acre indoor theme park features 24 rides, 18 of which are Nickelodeon-themed.

Based in Carlsbad, Legoland California has unveiled a brand new area and its first-ever dark ride.

The Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, California, recently announced that Michael O’Grattan (pictured) has been promoted to senior vice-president of operations.

The new entrance area to the Prater in Vienna was due to be opened to the public on April 25. The Riesenradplatz (Giant Wheel Square) is the most visible part of the park’s ongoing regeneration and features new service and infrastructure facilities, new attractions and fresh food and beverage offerings.

Welsh park Oakwood, Pembrokeshire, has been sold by owner Paddy McNamara to the Spanish group Aspro.

The Dutch design company Jora Vision has been contracted as designer and architect for the new look Wuhan Zoo in China. The winner of an international tendering process, Jora Vision presented a detailed plan to rebuild the zoo to Wuhan City representatives at the end of 2007.

Lake Winnepesaukah Amusement Park, Chattanooga, Tennessee, has added a new interactive play area. Runaround Playground, part of the Stay & Play Hideaway, is designed and constructed by Playcore, a Chattanooga company.

The owners of Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach in England are working on plans for a £35 million (E44m/$69m) development called The Edge. The Pleasure Beach is one of four concerns bidding for a casino licence in Great Yarmouth and, if successful, would combine it at The Edge with activities including bowling, a restaurant and 800 car parking space. “This will extend both the season and the so called Golden Mile,” Pleasure Beach managing director Albert Jones tells Park World. “Like a lot of resorts we have lost the night-time trade.” In the meantime, plans are mooted to bring a 60-metre Ferris Wheel to the park later this 2008 season.

Having now got a few 3D/4D projects under its belt, UK supplier Simworx is integrating a number of the technologies into its simulator rides, the area in which the company is traditionally known.

MagiQuest, a technology-based live-action fantasy game, debuted for the first time outside North America when it opened to enthusiastic crowds in late March at the Lagunasia theme park in Japan.

The new TEA/ERA Attraction Attendance report is published elsewhere on this website, revealing the world’s top parks and waterparks from 2007. A new entrant in the Top 20 list of waterparks – storming in at joint third with 1.4 million guests – was Chimelong Water Park near Guangzhou, China. 

SeaWorld Orlando is planning a new major attraction that will be part rollercoaster part animal attraction. Although the cost has not been announced, it is expected to become the Florida park's single most expensive attraction.

The Wonder Wheel at Deno's Wonder Wheel Park, Coney Island, New York, will be celebrate its 88th anniversary this August. Unlike some properties at Coney Island, Wonder Wheel Park has not been sold to developers and this will not be its final season.

This summer waterpark guests in Chongqing, China, will be able to experience the country’s largest and most spectacular waterplay attraction. The new Haichang Caribbean Park, which opens in July, will debut a 15,000 sq ft playground by SCS Interactive.

The TEA (Themed Entertainment Association) has confirmed details of its second European members meeting, which will be held at Disneyland Resort Paris on June 5 and 6 (Thursday and Friday).

Merlin Entertainments’ reputation as a private equity darling was confirmed recently when it won an award for achieving the fastest growing profits in the sector.