Theme Parks with Updated Tech Attract Big Spenders

Almost a third of Asian theme park visitors (32%) will double their spending if they can use more innovative technologies, according to research by Omnico.

Other insights from the Omnico Theme Park ROI Barometer -- a survey of 1,973 consumers from China, Malaysia and Japan who have visited a park within the past two years, along with 1,360 for the U.S. and U.K. -- shows that consumers expect technology to support their interactions in theme parks and resorts, just as it does in their daily lives.

• 35% will spend double on food and drink if they can use a smartphone app for advance ordering
• 31% will double expenditure if a restaurant allows them to use a self-scan app or self-service kiosk.
• 31% will spend twice as much if a park makes their visits easier by offering virtual reality guides and experiences, or has articial intelligence-powered recognition systems.

Chinese visitors were most likely to use a phone app for ordering food and drink, with 45% believing this would double their expenditure. For Japanese respondents, buying merchandise was where they were most likely to double spending with new technology (32%).

Queuing was universally hated, with 78% saying it often or occasionally put them off buying food and beverages.

Download the full report here. Omnico's cloud-based technology powers POS and customer engagement solutions in the destination and hospitality sectors.