DXB Entertainments visitors increase 5% in second quarter

International visitors accounted for 40 per cent of the total visitor mix during the first half of the year

Legoland Water Park is one of several parks operated by DXB Entertainments. The company grew the number of visitors to its theme parks in the second quarter as it sought to attract more tourists. Courtesy Dubai Parks and Resorts
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DXB Entertainments, the theme park operator of Legoland and Motiongate, said the number of visitors to its theme parks grew five per cent in the second quarter.

Visitor numbers in the second quarter rose to 641,000 from 612,000 in the same period a year ago, the company said.

"We increased international visitation to 40 per cent of the total visitor mix during the first half of the year, in line with our strategy to drive growth through targeting tourists," Mohamed Almulla, chief executive and managing director of DXB Entertainments, said.

In the first half of this year, numbers dropped four per cent to 1.4m from the prior-year period.

DXB Entertainments, which has been unprofitable since it listed to the Dubai stock exchange in 2014, scrapped plans earlier this year to open a Six Flags theme park in the emirate due to a lack of financing.

Earlier this month, the company said it will pay $7.5 million (Dh27.5m) to Six Flags as part of an agreement including the first right of refusal on any future project of the US company in Dubai over the next five years.The theme park operator agreed with Six Parks there will be no further claims under the settlement.

The $7.5m payment will be reflected in the company's balance sheet for the 2019 fiscal year, it said.

DXB Entertainments seeks to attract more tourists to its parks by offering a bundled hotel package, it said.

In addition to the Lapita Hotel, the Rove at The Park Hotel became the second hotel at Dubai Parks and Resorts when it opened on June 16.

"The ability for international visitors to stay at our destination as part of a bundled hotel package deal is becoming increasingly important," Mr Almulla said. "With the opening of Rove Hotel, we are pleased to broaden the overall hotel offering to appeal to a wider demographic.”

The UAE has opened a growing number of theme parks as part of efforts to diversify its entertainment offering and attract more tourists.