SeaWorld's visitor figures drop again
SeaWorld’s financial figures for the first quarter of the year saw its revenues drop by around 15% compared with the same period in previous year. Although overall losses improved, visitor numbers also fell, the company putting much of this down to a late Easter.
The company announced it was no longer going to breed orcas in capitivity last year and recently ended its theatrical shows featuring the whales. Instead, the company will soon be launching a new “Orca Encounter” which it claims will be a more educational experience.
The figures were released the day after the Zhonghong Group completed the purchase of its 21% stake in the company from the Blackstone Group. SeaWorld will be offering advice to an affiliate of the Chinese-based company on new parks in Asia, but says these will not feature orca shows.
