Summer season at Liseberg: attendance and incidents
Gothenburg’s Liseberg, Sweden’s largest amusement park, closed the summer season with solid attendance and a mixed incidents picture. By the end of August, more than 1.4 million visitors had enjoyed the park, with the year showing a cautious uptick after two challenging years tied to the Oceana water park fire and related depreciation. While the park remains a major tourist magnet, the incident statistics show that some guests still push the boundaries of park rules.
Most notably, the number of visitors who were refused entry, removed under police authority, or otherwise ejected rose sharply in the latest reporting period. In weeks 16 through 36, ejections rose from 458 last year to 862 this year. Communications chief Clara Rosendahl stresses that this is not a new trend but a reflection of stronger rule enforcement and improved data collection. “There is a zero-tolerance approach to those who violate our rules, and the statistics reflect that,” she says, while noting that the figures remain small relative to the park’s overall attendance.
Ejections up, but still low overall
Other discipline-related metrics showed a mixed picture. Reports of fraud related to wristbands or entry stamps stayed roughly level (83 this year vs. 85 last year). However, incidents of guests jumping the line or cutting in front of others rose—from 127 to 181 cases—illustrating a focus on crowd management and fair access.
Safety measures and reporting
Rosendahl emphasizes that improved safety actions accompany the higher ejection numbers. She notes that better statistics enable more precise responses, and the park’s security team remains aligned with a policy of zero tolerance for rule breaches. In parallel, the number of reported threats, violence, or harassment between guests or toward staff rose marginally, while there was a decrease in successful unauthorized entries. The overall intent, she says, is to ensure a safe experience for everyone while maintaining a welcoming environment for families and thrill-seekers alike.
Financials and the Oceana aftermath
Financially, Liseberg showed ongoing challenges in 2023 and the previous year, largely due to depreciation stemming from the Oceana water park fire. This year, however, the tune appears more hopeful. The interim report through August shows revenue slightly above budget and a small uptick in visitor numbers compared with last year. More striking is the bottom line: year-to-date profit stood at 109 million kronor, beating the budget by 72 million kronor. The improvement is attributed to stronger sales and a leaner headcount versus last year.
The Grand Curiosa hotel, opened mid-season, has performed well, with occupancy averaging about 99 percent from midsummer through mid-August despite Oceana remaining a construction site. The resilience in these hospitality elements helps anchor the park’s overall financial trajectory as it navigates a year marked by shocks but edged toward stability.
Insurance dispute and leadership outlook
In the wake of the Oceana incident, Liseberg has taken the insurance dispute to court, pursuing a claim worth a little over a billion kronor against the insurer Trygg-Hansa, which has so far rejected the claim. Liseberg’s chief executive, Andreas Andersen, describes the year as “a shaking one,” yet remains cautiously optimistic. “We feel we are on the right path with both the business and Oceana. We’re closing in on a positive margin in our projections,” he tells DN, signaling a more confident view for the rest of the year.
Outlook and broader context
Analysts note that while Liseberg’s figure for August shows a positive trend, the broader tourist season across Sweden has been influenced by visitors from neighboring countries. The park’s management points to continued improvements in safety, data collection, and financial discipline as levers for a steadier performance in the months ahead. For now, the combination of robust attendance, improved earnings, and ongoing Oceana work frames a narrative of cautious recovery after a difficult period.
Bottom line
As Liseberg balances safety, growth, and the legacy of the Oceana project, the summer results suggest the park is turning a corner. With near-record hotel occupancy and a firmer financial footing, leadership remains focused on delivering a safe, enjoyable experience while resolving the insurance dispute and completing Oceana’s development.
