Summary of Key Points
Extreme weather has shifted from a rare “accident” to the norm in the tourism industry, with the number of days parks are closed increasing year by year. For example, a park in Hainan was closed for 47 days in the first half of 2026, far exceeding the total number of closures in previous years. This has directly led to a decline in revenue, a surge in costs, and other hidden losses such as slow recovery of visitor traffic, ruined seasonal businesses, and negative customer reviews. More importantly, extreme weather has rewritten the fundamental logic of the industry: tourists’ booking cycles have been shortened to within 3 days, outdoor and coastal attractions have become less attractive, while indoor all-weather activities are in high demand, and inland scenic areas are becoming more popular. The report suggests several approaches to cope with these changes, including coordinated weather and tourism warnings, unified instructions from regulatory authorities, and parks adjusting their strategies to rely on different seasons.
1. Extreme Weather Makes It Even Harder for Parks to Survive
Parks already depend on the weather for their income, but now extreme weather is more frequent and often occurs during peak seasons. The park owned by Mr. H in Hainan was closed for 28 days in the first half of this year due to typhoons, heavy rain, and high temperatures, with outdoor activities shut down for 19 days. During the peak season (holidays and summer), business was reduced by nearly half. The number of closures has been increasing annually: 21 days in 2022, 32 days in 2025, and 47 days in the first half of 2026, with more expected for the second half of the year. This is a nationwide issue; in Beijing, parks have been closed over 10 times due to heavy rain and sandstorms this year. Some joke that a park that has never been closed doesn’t consider itself a good one. With only about 100 days in the peak season, losing half of that time to bad weather makes life very difficult for these businesses.
2. Direct Losses: Revenue Drops, Costs Soar, and Half-Year Losses Exceed 2 Million
When parks are closed due to extreme weather, they earn no income, but expenses continue as usual. Mr. H’s park saw a 23.5% decrease in revenue this year, with outdoor and water-based activities declining by 35%. Costs have skyrocketed: repairs to coastal walkways cost nearly one million, maintenance of游乐 facilities cost 500,000, and other expenses such as employee salaries and venue rental amounted to 600,000, resulting in a direct loss of over 2 million (compared to just 1.36 million for the entire year of 2025). These are tangible losses, but the hidden costs are even more devastating.
3. Hidden Losses: Slow Recovery of Visitor Traffic, Ruined Seasonal Businesses, and Exhausting Customer Complaints
- Slow Recovery of Traffic: It used to take 3 days for parks to return to normal after closure, but now it takes more than 10 days, missing out on a large number of potential visitors.
- Ruined Seasonal Activities: Seasonal attractions (such as rafting) have only a two-month window, and if they are closed due to extreme weather, all the investment is lost (some owners simply decide not to operate during that season, thinking it’s better to avoid losses).
- Exhausting Customer Complaints: Sudden closures disrupt visitors’ plans, leading to demands for compensation for the entire trip. Parks face criticism from both customers and angry travelers; they have to either refund tickets or absorb the loss, with negative reviews damaging their reputation.
4. The Industry Logic Has Changed: Booking Cycles Have Shortened, and Business Models Are Being Redefined
- Shorter Booking Cycles: Previously, bookings were made 5–7 days in advance; now nearly half of visitors book within 3 days, and a quarter book on the same day. Parks can no longer predict traffic accurately, leading to disorganized allocation of resources (staff, supplies), and chaos for related businesses such as hotels and restaurants.
- Reordered Business Models: Outdoor and coastal attractions are becoming less popular (beach villas and seaside camping areas are deserted due to typhoons), while indoor and semi-indoor activities (cultural experiences, immersive performances, and family-friendly options) are gaining popularity. Inland scenic areas are more stable, attracting more visitors. These changes will directly affect future tourism investments for the next 3–5 years, and those who do not adapt will be left behind.
5. Responses: Prepare for the “New Normal” Instead of Waiting for Accidents
- Coordinated Weather and Tourism: Parks need a decision-making system that specifies which activities to shut down or close based on weather warnings, to avoid being caught in the middle.
- Unified Guidance from Authorities: Multiple departments issue instructions, leaving parks unsure who to follow; clear and consistent guidance is needed.
- Parks Need to Adjust Their Strategies: They should no longer rely solely on peak seasons but plan for the entire year, figuring out how to make the most of peak times and attract new visitors during off-peak periods. Failure to adapt will result in being eliminated by extreme weather.
Extreme weather is no longer a rare event; the tourism industry must accept this “new normal” and adjust all aspects of its operations to survive in this unpredictable environment.