The general situation resulting from the pandemic, with the closure of facilities for 97 days, the loss of the school season, the reopening with special measures and the decrease in international tourism, has led to a 60% reduction in the number of visits compared to 2019. .
In February, on the occasion of the anniversary, BIOPARC shares with society its previous year results. Now in its 13th anniversary, the park makes a bittersweet balance of 2020.
With a trajectory of growth and consolidation as a global benchmark, this 2020 has been, like for many, a really complicated year and a challenge for BIOPARC. The effects of the pandemic and the economic crisis mark some results very hard, the worst in the history of the park. The closure of the facilities has meant the total cancellation of income for 97 days, with the added problem of keep expenses, since internally the park maintained its normal activity derived from the commitment to animal welfare and the optimal maintenance of the facilities. This supposes a daily cost of 22.000 euros. These months coincided not only with important holiday moments such as Easter, but also with most of the school visits that BIOPARC has in its “nature classroom”.
Rain Forest formalized a request for “economic rebalancing” to the city council in June, which is awaiting resolution.
Rain forest, the company that designed, built and manages BIOPARC, is a Spanish SME with private capital, which does not “have behind” any industrial or service group or any investment fund. He has put himself above all responsibility, especially for the particularity of your occupation, which involves maintaining the maximum care of living beings. In these circumstances, all possible adjustments have been made to maintain the necessary activity, implementing a ERTE and resorting to loans ICO. Furthermore, since it is a administrative concession with a private investment of more than 70 million euros To develop the project, a request for “economic rebalancing” to the City Council from the city. This request, which corresponds to more than three months of closure, was formalized last June and is still Pending.
As in most economic sectors, The reopening is subject to important limitations and health and safety measures.. Furthermore, the consequences of the fall in international tourism and restrictions on mobility have been very notable. The results are clear, a 60% decrease in park visits: From 637.000 in 2019, it has risen to 264.000 in 2020, of which only 11% are international, compared to 46% in 2019.
An institution like BIOPARC that has as nature conservation objective In the broadest sense, it always has to do with the “sweet” side. In this sense, it has meant a great satisfaction to see the very positive response of national tourism with 25% of visits compared to 13% the previous year and of people from the entire Valencian Community who accounted for 64% compared to 41% in 2019.
Also worth noting is the mutual commitment that is established between Valencians and BIOPARC and that is evident in the annual pass B! The park offered the possibility of extending its validity during the months it was closed. And, the enhancement of the attractiveness of BIOPARC as a space for safe leisure to enjoy frequently with a really special price, has led to the number of people who have active the pass B!
El more emotional side has been, without a doubt, the delivery of the entire human team who incorporated all health measures into his daily work and which allowed him to continue with the highest quality standardsd in the maintenance of the facilities and in the animal welfare. The company implemented all the necessary changes so that not a single day, even in the most adverse circumstances, would BIOPARC's internal activity cease, with the aim of ensuring that the animals remained in their “bubble” and did not suffer at all from the problems of the pandemic. .
All that effort it was seen rewarded with a baby boom(youtube) which represents the hope of conservation of endangered species In nature. Each birth has been experienced by the park team as an emotional stimulus.
BIOPARC reinforces its proposal of “leisure with a cause” and has continued to virtually carry out actions that involve the BIOPARC Foundation and society, such as the 8th Can-rrera or the parades of abandoned dogs. The park remains open to the public with all security measures and until the end of February, with the 13th Anniversary, the proposal is underway so that “we celebrate it for a whole year”, with the promotion of the annual pass B! at €38 and +€1 to save chimpanzees with the projects of the Jane Goodall Institute.
