Economic Impact and Adaptation
Regional amusement parks, like Playland’s Castaway Cove in Ocean City, N.J., face rising costs due to tariffs on imported steel and Chinese-made toys, yet report strong attendance and customer satisfaction so far this year.
To mitigate tariff impacts, some parks ordered goods early, benefiting from reduced tariffs, while others, like Adventureland in Farmingdale, N.Y., chose not to raise ticket prices despite absorbing additional costs.
Tourism Trends and Future Concerns
The U.S. Travel Association forecasts a 2% increase in trips and travel spending this year, highlighting a rebound in leisure travel to pre-pandemic levels, which regional parks hope to capitalize on.
Economic uncertainty and fluctuating tariffs pose ongoing challenges for park operators, with some, like Dollywood, facing tough decisions on pricing and expansion amidst these pressures.