The leisure industry has reached a game-changing moment with the historic announcement that Universal Studios will open in the United Kingdom.
A deal years in the making will transform the leisure industry for a variety of reasons. Here are three key takeaways from the announcement:
Jobs, jobs and more jobs
A huge incentive of this deal is the amount of jobs which will be created – The theme park is said to bring nearly 20,000 jobs during the construction period, with a further 8,000 new jobs across the hospitality and creative industries when it opens in 2031. 80% will be local sourced once the theme park is operational and training will be provided for its prospective employees, boosting the local economy and greater afield to the tune of 50 Billion pounds.
Transformative transport infrastructure
Universal Studios will not be just a theme park; it will be a tourism destination which will enhance the surrounding area from a transport infrastructure perspective. An expansion of London Luton Airport, both an upgraded railway station in Bedford and a new rail junction at Wixams as well as new and improved road links are just some of the planned projects in the pipeline. This enormous transport project is needed to cater for the nearly nine million visitors Universal Studios UK expects to receive annually.
Boost for Theme Park industry
2025 has been a sad time with the closure of Oakwood in Wales and several visitor attractions suffering through the cost of living crisis. However, the unveiling of Universal Studios in the United Kingdom represents a beacon of hope to inject some much needed positivity into the domestic leisure industry. The arrival of Universal Studios on our shores will up the game of the rest of the theme parks and amusement parks especially with a healthy dose of entertainment competition.
Image: Universal Studios
