Theme parks could axe queues

THRILL seekers may never have to queue for whiteknuckle rides again as theme parks draw up plans for a safe reopening.

Technology firm Accesso – whose clients include Thorpe Park and Alton Towers owner Merlin Entertainments – is working on the roll-out of a system that will let customers book timeslots on rides via their mobile phones.

Visitors to theme parks face the prospect of longer waits due to the need to space people out on rides and to allow time for extra cleaning.

The technology will allow visitors to book ‘digital tickets’ and to keep their places in virtual queues.

The abolition of physical lining up will help it to meet Covid-19 safety standards.

Merlin, which also owns Madame Tussauds, already uses Accesso’s Q-smart system as a premium option at five of its 130 global attractions including Legoland in Windsor.

Now Accesso chief executive Steve Brown is working on a blueprint to make virtual queuing the only way for visitors to access rides. Last week, he signed a deal with the Walibi Holland theme park in the Netherlands, owned by French ski resort operator Compagnie des Alpes, to introduce virtual queuing.

Brown said the technology could also help cruise ships, football stadiums and airport security to operate safely.

‘Any attraction that draws large crowds will need to open in a socially distant way,’ he added. ‘We are the technology version of the hand sanitiser.’

Last month Merlin revealed it is seeking Government aid to protect jobs.