Budapest’s historic but financially struggling amusement park Vidámpark (literally: “Happy Park”) will continue to operate, the Budapest Assembly decided last Thursday. Earlier last week it was reported that the city-owned firm that operates the park, Fővárosi Vidámpark Zrt, could file for protection from its creditors. But the municipality has instead chosen to restructure the firm, and take direct charge of certain “strategic decisions.” According to hirado.hu, in the future expenses at the park will have to be approved by a supervisor in addition to the company’s director.
Over the past few years, visitor numbers at the park have dropped radically, and the company was unable to reverse this trend by buying new rides and otherwise spiffing up the offering. As a result, the operating company has had a hard time paying off debts and suppliers.
While the municipality’s move suggests the park will be saved in the short run from a trip to the horror house of bankruptcy, it’s hard to see how sending in the clowns from city hall will help over the long term.
it won’t unless they understand the business principle that more people coming to visit at a lower price is better than fewer (and fewer) attending at their current prices.
“Vidámpark (literally: “Happy Park”)”
Even more literally: “Gay Park”.
Go for a lark in the gay park and make merry for tomorrow belongs to…?
You pays your money and you takes your chance- one last attempt to frolic and prance before the bulldozer knocks down the house.
Having a big amusement park within a major city is a blessed legacy from another era and should be preserved. It would be almost impossible to launch and build such a project today. Only the Disney people occasionally build an amusement park, and even they avoid downtowns.
Such a facility, if well maintained, is also good for tourism. A good example of a well kept urban park is the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen. Places like Vidámpark are a vital gift from another time and generation. Our great grandparents aren’t around to maintian it anymore- that should be the job of their descendents.
FarkasLászló. We already have a Disneyland. It is housed in the Parliament buildings in Budapest.
The place is full of mice, morons, misfits,miscreants and madmen. The entrance fee is your sanity.