Children prefer to go back to a zoo after lockdown

Children and teens can't wait for zoos to be allowed to reopen. A whopping 40 percent of the top 20 favorite attractions that 4- to 18-year-olds would most like to visit again after the lockdown are zoos.

This emerges from research among 3,700 young respondents by brand researcher Hendrik Beerda Brand Consultancy commissioned by Libéma. Apenheul, Safaripark Beekse Bergen and Blijdorp are the three most popular zoos.

Children see zoos as a friendly and fun outing. In the wish list of 20 favorite outings they would like to go to again soon are eight zoos, accounting for 40 percent of the total. Amusement parks rank second with 35 percent. Educational attractions, such as museums, rank third with 15 percent and indoor playgrounds close the line with 10 percent.

Outdoor air
"For children and young people, zoos are fantastic places, where they can discover animals and play and enjoy the great outdoors," says Leentje Lips, divisional director at Libéma. "Animal parks have the character of a walking park, with a regulated and controlled function. Last year we showed that animal parks are a safe and responsible day out even without a testing policy, where the corona rules are perfectly manageable. So we hope to reopen the doors soon and offer these children, their parents and other enthusiasts another great day out."

In all age categories, animal parks score high. Wildlands, the Dolfinarium, Burgers' Zoo, Dierenpark Amersfoort and Ouwehands Dierenpark Rhenen are also in the top twenty. Other favorite outings include the Efteling, Monkeytown, the Railway Museum and Walibi.

Popularity increased
Compared to 2019, the popularity of zoos increased by 10 percentage points, from 30 to 40 percent of favorites in the top 20. The top 20 wish list also now includes eight animal parks, up from six two years earlier.

In doing so, they switched places with theme parks. In 2019, they were still at the top with 35 percent. Museums went from 25 to 15 percent on the young target group's wish list. Indoor playgrounds remained the same with 10 percent of the occupancy.

Wider
Even when looking more broadly at all leisure activities, zoos have the number one position, followed by theme parks, museums, cinemas and concerts.

Among adults, zoos are also popular. In a 2020 survey of favorite outings among adults, also conducted by Hendrik Beerda, as many as six zoos were in the top ten last year.