Theme-park-hound bargain seekers would be wise to spend some time surfing online before they get in line at the parks this summer.
A growing number of these attractions now allow customers to print e-tickets at home with large discounts off the gate price, in part to spur attendance that has declined in recent years.
After boom times in the late 1990s, theme park attendance began to decrease, with an overall decline of about 400% over the past few years at North America's 50 most-visited establishments, says James Zoltak, editor of Amusement Business.
'The boom was off the rose as we turned the comer into 2000, so there's more discounting now', he says.
Discounting isn't new to an industry that has longer partnered with other commercial enterprises, such as soft drink companies, to offer deals. But e-ticketing adds a new opportunity that not only brings savings but convenience as well, since it allows visitors to avoid the line at the gatE.
'If you can get in early before the lines fill up, you're getting more for your money', says Robert Niles of the website Theme Park Insider.
The word 'attractions'(Line 1, Paragraph 2) refers to______.
A.theme parks
B.bargains
C.e-tickets
D.discounts