BASINGSTOKE, England,
March 21, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
Consumers expect a super-smooth,
cash-free experience using mobile technology, research shows
91% of Japanese and Malaysian theme park and resort visitors
want to bypass queues by using a cell phone app to purchase a
fast-track pass with specific timeslots. 89% want to use an app to
buy their entrance ticket and gain entry, a survey by Omnico has
found.
(Photo:
http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/480291/Omnico_Global_Theme_Park_Barometer_Infographic.jpg
)
The findings are in the first Omnico Japanese and Malaysian
Theme Park Barometers each exploring the expectations of 500 recent
visitors to major attractions in those countries.
"These results show that visitors want mobile apps to make theme
park and resort visits more convenient and enjoyable," said
Mel Taylor, CEO, Omnico Group.
"These apps are integral to many people's lives and they expect
park operators to use them to eradicate hassles such as handling
cash or queueing.
"For example, 85% want to decide where to eat in a park using an
app to see where the waiting times are shortest. 63% in each
country would also like to receive personalised deals and discounts
on their phones, based on where they are."
The survey shows that advance booking of hotels, tickets,
dining, spa and even merchandise is also a clear preference with
the majority of visitors. 88% want to pre-book their fast-track
ride passes, for instance, while 96% of Malaysian and 83% of
Japanese visitors want to book hotels in advance. Guests also want
to use pre-paid cashless wristbands for convenience, although the
figure was much higher in Malaysia
(85%), than in Japan (61%).
Visitors also expect new technologies such as Virtual and
Augmented Reality or robots to be used in parks. 70% of Malaysians
expect to see VR experiences or guides within the next three years,
compared with 53% of Japanese respondents. 42% of Malaysians and a
quarter of Japanese guests (25%) expect Siri-type personal digital
assistants to feature in theme parks of the future.
"Investing in the right technology is now essential for park
operators," said Taylor. "Visitors want a single, connected, easy
experience covering entry, rides and attractions, shops and
restaurants. Operators in Japan
and Malaysia can see from our
survey how to compete effectively and maximise their returns."
About Omnico:
Omnico's Cloud based technology powers POS and customer
engagement solutions across the retail, destination and hospitality
sectors.
http://www.omnicogroup.com
Full report -http://themeparkch.omnicogroup.com/