Sun shines on Ardent's theme parks

29 Oct 2012, 5:08 pm   -   Source: AAP
Ardent Leisure says a period of normalised weather helped generate an increase of 3.9% in earnings. (AAP)

Ardent Leisure says a period of normalised weather helped generate an increase of 3.9% in earnings. (AAP)

Gold Coast theme park owner Ardent Leisure says its earnings have risen because visitor numbers are up.

Theme park owner Ardent Leisure says visitor numbers have risen at its Gold Coast venues because of better weather, helping it to post higher earnings.

Ardent Leisure's theme parks - Dreamworld, WhiteWater World and the SkyPoint observation deck at Surfers Paradise - generated $9.87 million in earnings in the three months to September 30.

That was up 3.9 per cent on the same period in the previous year.

"The period evidenced more normalised weather patterns and improved local patronage to the Gold Coast destination," chief executive Greg Shaw said in a statement on Monday.

The return of Qantas services to the Gold Coast from late October should further increase the number of interstate visitors to the parks, he said.

Ardent Leisure also owns Goodlife Health Clubs, AMF bowling centres, the d'Albora Marinas business and Main Event indoor recreation centres in the United States.

All businesses - except bowling - posted higher or steady earnings in the quarter.

Bowling business earnings were down 6.7 per cent to $5.58 million, partly due to the closure of two AMF centres for redevelopment.

But, even with the exclusion of those closures, earnings were still down 1.9 per cent from the same period in the previous year.

AMF Bowling currently was being restructured to focus more on local area marketing and a more aggressive marketing strategy, Mr Shaw said.

Ardent Leisure shares were up 1.5 cents at $1.375 on Monday.

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