DOSSIER - Amusement parks: A great escape for local incentives

The French leisure park market is doing rather well, with sales of €2 billion, 50 million visitors a year and almost 22,000 employees. In 2008, the number of admissions even rose by 7 %. "2009 looks set to be another good year," says Sophie Huberson, General Secretary of Snelac, the national union for leisure, animal and cultural facilities. This union has 160 members, representing 98 % of the profession, divided into five categories: funfair-type amusement parks, aquatic centres, animal parks, edutainment centres, plus certain cultural sites, some of which are veritable resorts offering leisure activities, restaurants, hotels and even meeting rooms all in one place.