The Asian theme park industry is set to grow rapidly over the next five years, according to a report by market analyst PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

Japan is the region’s largest market with US$3.6bn (£1.7bn) in revenues, which are expected to grow 4.5 per cent to US$4.5bn (£2.18bn) by 2011.

China, the second-largest market, is an area currently experiencing particular growth, spurred by a rapidly expanding middle class.

Analysts also singled out India as the next major region for growth, another country where an affluent middle class is developing through economic expansion.

Meanwhile, preliminary projections show that the North American market was able to sustain another year of flat to moderate revenue growth, largely aided by the weak dollar.

Although the US is still the leading region in the global theme park market, PwC predicts that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will be the world’s next home of destination theme parks.

PwC also predicts that Europe’s theme park market will grow 5.1 per cent for the five-year period between 2007 and 2011. increasing to US$5.5bn.

While fewer new parks and attractions are planned across the continent, many popular existing parks will add major investments that will encourage return guests.