Any problems that may have impacted Merlin Entertainments’ annual profits appear to have been easily overcome.
Many thought that terrorist fears and weaker sterling hitting UK visitor numbers would have a negative impact, but that has not been the case.
Nearly 30 million people visited one of the company’s theme parks or attractions in the first half of the year, pushing up numbers by 6.2 per cent. But after the recent terrorist attacks in London and Manchester, the company said it remained cautious for the rest of the year.
The London-based company, with big name attractions such as Madame Tussauds and the London Eye benefited from the weaker pound because it encouraged foreigners to come to Britain. Merlin has eight Legoland parks, including new ones in Japan and New Delhi and has plans for one in Korea and one in New York. Legoland locations’ revenues were up 34.6 per cent in the six months at £267m.
Overall revenues were up 19.4 per cent to £685m.
