Water parks back in business

They have reduced ticket rates to recover from a year of lean revenues

Amusement parks, which remained closed during last year’s peak summer season, have opened with new safety rules.

The BBMP has no specific guidelines for them, apart from what the Ministry of Home Affairs has laid down for public places, says Vijayendra, chief health officer (public health), BBMP.

Subhash Chandra, manager, Fun World and Water World, says the crowds are not the same as before, but festivals and public holidays have been a big draw since the re-opening in November.

“All MHA guidelines are followed and we are doing temperature checks and frequent sanitisation of the rides and the premises,” he says.

“But at the end of the day it’s the visitors’ responsibility to keep themselves safe.”

Ticket prices have come down. “We had no choice as we need the business and we have about 40 employees dependent on the park,” he explains. Wonderla reopened only for the weekends in November but is now open four days of the week.

“Footfalls are lower than before, not just because of Covid but also because of fewer hours. We are
operating at 50 per cent capacity,” says Arun Chittilappilly, managing director, Wonderla Holidays.

The park got about 36,000 visitors between November and December. “We are poised to hit 50 per cent of last year’s numbers soon. In fact, we had to close entry a couple of times last month because we hit full capacity,” he
says.

Wonderla has procured a certification of Covid safety from an auditing company. “It’s an extra precautionary measure,” he says.

BBMP watching?

The municipal authorities are not specifically monitoring safety precautions at the amusement parks. “The parks are expected to maintain safety on their own. No marshals or policemen are assigned to monitor or enforce Covid rules in or around parks,” says BBMP chief marshal officer Rajbir Singh.