22 Nov 2016
Trump election victory could increase investment in US attractions, says GCI president
BY Tom Anstey
Donald Trump's US presidential election victory could be beneficial for the US theme park industry, according to the president of Great Coasters International (GCI).
Talking to Attractions Management, Clair Hain said it was likely that the Republican Party would spend more money on developing the sector than the Democrats had Hillary Clinton won the race for the White House.
President-elect Trump represents the Republican Party, which has been out of office for eight years after two consecutive terms for Democrat President Obama.
Hain said that while there had been investment during final year of the Democrat term – with purchases of four rides from the company – the years previous had been quieter by comparison.
“I think the election results are going to change a lot of things that happen in the States this year,” said Hain. “Looking at previous trends it seems like the Republicans want to spend a lot more money because they save a lot more in taxes and everything else.”
He added: “Only time will tell when it comes to the markets, but I’m very confident going forward.”
Pennsylvania-based GCI is currently manufacturing four major new rides – two in the US and two in China. During last week’s IAAPA conference it unveiled the ride cars for InvadR – Busch Gardens Willamsburg’s first wooden ever rollercoaster.
GCI’s other US coaster under development is for the Cedar Fair-owned Kings Island – a wooden rollercoaster called Mystic Timbers – while its Chinese developments are for two OCT parks in Chengdu and Chongqing.
“Right now we’re not seeing any problems in China, they’re spending heavily there,” said Hain. “In the US and Europe they’re watching every penny they can get.
“Everybody is always out there to get the biggest, the baddest, the fastest – the whole nine yards. But ultimately it comes down to the mighty dollar.”
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