Major attractions operators across Europe, Asia and North America enjoyed successful trading in 2012, with average attendance increasing 6.7 per cent across the top 10 global operators, according to the latest industry data.

The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) and AECOM's Global Attractions Attendance Report 2012 indicates that Walt Disney Corporation's Attractions division remains the world's leading operator, generating revenues of $126.5m in 2012 – up 4.7 per cent on the year earlier.

Revenues for UK-based Merlin Entertainments in 2012 totalled $54m (up 16.4 per cent), while third-placed Universal Parks and Resorts saw its top line swell 7.9 per cent last year to $34.5m.

The remaining operating companies in the top 10 were Parques Reunidos, Six Flags, SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, OCT Parks China, Haichang Group and Compagnie des Alps.

John Robinett, senior vice president of economics for TEA, said: "The market in North America was, this year as last year, driven by major reinvestment at major operators' parks.

"Last year, Orlando led the way with The Wizarding World of harry potter at universal Studios Florida. This year, it was Southern California, with substantial increases at Disney California Adventure as well as Universal Studios Hollywood."

Robinett added: "In Asia there has been double-digit growth on the part of leading international and domestic operators. Hong Kong Disney and Universal Studios Japan were up 14 per cent.

"Lotte World, Chimelong and other major parks saw tremendous growth as well. Europe's theme parks experienced, for the most part, some small gains and some small losses, consistent with the region's economic malaise. But in the midst of that were some inspiring successes.

"Parc Asterix, Legoland Windsor and Puy du Fou all benefited from smart reinvestment in attractions as well as marketing, reaping attendance increases ranging from five to eight per cent.

"The waterparks business grew in both North America and Asia. We forecasted in last year's Theme Index that the industry in Asia would begin to outpace the industry in North America. In the waterparks we track, we've seen the first clear sign of it.

"Our water park figures show that the Asian attendance totals have for the first time surpassed those of North America. The Asian water parks market showed 7.4 per cent growth with total attendance at 16 million – about one million more than North America."