Toronto Zoo reports just under 1 million visitors in last year. Attendance numbers decline by 10% from last year.
The Toronto Zoo — one of Scarborough’s leading attractions — is reporting that they welcomed almost one million visitors through their doors in their last fiscal year.
There were 979,457 guests to the zoo for the reporting year ending August 31. While it’s a large number, it actually represents a decline of about 100,000 guests from the previous year.
The numbers were disclosed in a public report prepared for the zoo’s Board of Management.
What has gone up though is what the zoo calls average revenue per guest — meaning the amount of income they receive from each visitor has increased. That figure now stands at $39.49, an increase of 8% from the past year.
The weather may be to blame for these declining attendance numbers, the report suggests.
“The summer months experienced significant periods of extreme heat and humidity impacting attendance levels, with 26 days through July and August experiencing a humidex of 35 degrees Celsius or more,” the report says. “Three separate periods of air quality statements and/or warnings covering approximately eight days were also issued over the summer as a result of smoke from wildfires affecting southern Ontario.”
The report also breaks down what category of attendee these visitors fall under, with just about half being general admission tickets. Members accounted for 29% of visitors while school groups made up 22% of guests.
Membership sales and income from education activity both exceeded expectations, softening the financial blow from declining attendance overall.
The Toronto Zoo is currently in the middle of a refresh, with a new entrance as well as Community Conservation Centre expected to be completed next year. These new features may serve to increase attendance in the years to come.
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What do you want to see from the Toronto Zoo? How can the zoo do more to attract visitors? Let us know at info@mpulse.ca.
