Feel so scorchingly hot that you just have to jump into the water -- with a splash?
Water-park operators are embracing the SARS-free, sizzling-hot weather -- and tourists -- with arms open wide.
"Our business was only affected [by SARS] for one month," said Lisa Chen (
The SARS epidemic that struck in April last year dampened the public's interest in outdoor activities, including splashing around in water parks, but the effect did not last long, Chen said.
Instead, business at Yamay returned to normal in late May, with the number of visitors hitting an all-time high at 600,000 for that five-month season, 40 percent up from the previous year, Chen said.
She attributed the record rise in turnover to last year's high temperatures.
As temperatures begin to hover around 35?C, Chen said she hoped that Yamay would manage another record this year.
Chen is not alone in predicting high sales.
Rock Shen (
Blue Lagoon reported brisk sales in the post-SARS summer last year, taking Shen by surprise by pushing numbers up 25 percent to over 500,000, the highest figure in its four-year history.
Hoping to gain early profits, both water parks opened their doors early this month with promotional activities to lure water-loving customers.
Chen said that any woman -- or man -- who wears a bikini can win free entrance into Mala Bay before 10am this month and next month.
The price of entry has also been slashed from NT$700 to NT$450 per person to celebrate the park's fifth anniversary, she said.
At Blue Lagoon, the entrance fee remains unchanged for adults at NT$500 or NT$390 after 5pm.
But Shen said Blue Lagoon will provide a free dinner for members who submit coupons downloaded from the park's Web site before June 30.
Despite the strong competition, Formosa Wonderworld (
"We saw growth in terms of business volume last year despite a short-term, SARS-induced impact. The number of visitors this summer is expected to skyrocket again," planning chief Chu Mei-yen (
Water aficionados who want to avoid getting sunburned may prefer the nation' s only indoor water park in Kenting, Pingtung County.
Situated within the Howard Hotel, the 3,000-ping dome is open all year with the water temperature maintained between 26?C and 28?C.
"This is a world where every day is a summer's day," park director Eva Wu (
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