Europa-Park with positive results at the end of the summer season

Rust/Germany. With a fantastic fireworks- and laser-show, Europa-Park ended its summer season 2006 again with positive results: depite the fact, that the summer season 2006 was three weeks shorter than in 2005, 3.5 million visitors came to Germany's biggest theme park. Compared to previous years, the number of visitors increased especially during the months of September and October. Thus, Europa-Park maintains its position as market leader in Germany and as the largest seasonal theme park worldwide. Neither the bad weather nor the Football World Cup in Germany have had a negative impact on the number of visitors. In fact, with the new attraction "Arena of Football?, the presentation of the "World's biggest Football? and the possibility to watch the football matches in the park, Europa-Park succeeded in presenting "football? as a new attraction.

Today, 80 % of all guests are repeat visitors. For Roland Mack, managing director of Europa-Park, this is a "proof for above-average quality and class? in Germany's biggest theme park. Without continuously producing new ideas and initiatives, it would not be possible to keep this high standard. Roland Mack's strategy: "We need innovation, emotion and quality.?

Every fourth visitor stays overnight in the Europa-Park Resort. As a result of the high occupancy rate of over 90 %, another hotel will be opened in July 2007. In the new hotel, which is located next to the Spanish hotel "El Andaluz?, the guests can then stay overnight like friars and nuns and yet live in luxury. The hotel, which offers approximately 290 beds, will be designed in the style of an old Portuguese monastery and offer all modern comforts of a 4-star hotel. In the future, a rising number of visitors from abroad is expected, especially because of the Black Forest Airport in Lahr, which now has a passenger licence for Europa-Park guests.

After 31 years, Europa-Park looks back on impressive results: almost 70 million visitors came to Europa-Park until today, the Mack family has invested more than 450 million Euro without public subventions. Approximately 3,000 staff members are employed at Europa-Park and more than 8,000 indirect jobs have been created by the leisure park. Despite the difficult economic situation, more than 500 new jobs and approximately 60 training places were added during the past years.

Europa-Park has more and more developed into a crowd-puller in the German tourism industry. With approximately 850,000 visitors from each country, Switzerland and France are the largest markets after Germany. With the Black Forest Airport in Lahr, which has a passenger licence for visitors of Europa-Park since June 2006, now even more international guests have the opportunity to visit Europa-Park. During the "spooky Halloween Weeks?, guests from Berlin and Vienna came to Europa-Park by plane and more visitors from Nottingham, Berlin and Vienna are expected during the "magical Winter Weeks?.

Confertainment with increasing numbers
Europa-Park is developing more and more into a location for conferences, events and entertainment. In 2006, more than 1,000 Confertainment events are organised in Germany's biggest theme park. During the winter season, the dinner-show "Cirque d'Europe? is one of the highlights at Europa-Park.

Colosseo open year-round
On November 6^th, Europa-Park closed its doors for a short period in order to prepare for the "magical Winter Weeks?. From December 2^nd 2006 until January 7^th 2007, the visitors can experience Germany's biggest theme park as a magical winterwonderland with thousands of sparkling fairy lights, Christmas trees, a romantic Christmas market and special winter attractions.
The hotel Colosseo is open year-round. Also during the off-season, it is an attractive location for conferences but also for relaxation. During the day, the "Balinea Meritoria? invites the guests to relax and unwind and in the evening the vistors can enjoy a romantic candlelight dinner.

During the winter season 2006/2007, Europa-Park will be open from December 2^nd 2006 until January 7^th 2007 (except December 24^th/25^th), every day from 11.00 am until 7.00 pm. Further information on www.europapark.de, Infoline +49 (0) 1805 / 77 66 88 (0,12 ?/min. for calls within Germany).