The North American theme park industry surpassed pre-recession attendance figures for the first time in 2013, recording its third straight year of growth to mark a strong recovery.

According to the annual TEA/AECOM Themed Index Report released today (3 June), attendance figures for the top 20 North American theme parks hit 135.1m in 2013.

The upswing was reflected in global figures for the top 20 theme park groups worldwide, which recorded attendance growth of 5.4 per cent.

The Asian market continued its rapid ascension to the industry’s upper echelons, posting punchy figures across the board for its attractions. The top 20 Asian theme parks saw attendances climb 7.5 per cent in 2013, while the top 15 waterparks posted the most impressive figures of all, achieving 9 per cent growth over the year.

It was also a good 12 months for the world’s museums, with global attendance figures for the top 20 increasing by 7.2 per cent. The Louvre in Paris retained top spot for the seventh consecutive year, welcoming 9.3 million visitors under its famous glass pyramid.

“Leisure and travel industries are maturing in the West and breaking new ground in the East," said Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) president Christine Kerr of BaAM Productions.

"It's an exciting, creative time for our industry. We are honoured to be partnering with AECOM for the seventh consecutive year on this annual study, a critical resource for anyone with an interest in the leisure and travel sector.”