April 28 (Bloomberg) -- Euro Disney SCA, Europe’s largest theme-park operator, reported a wider first-half loss, hurt by a drop in the number of Spanish and British visitors.

The net loss in the six months ended March 31 was 71.9 million euros ($94 million), up from 37.5 million euros a year earlier, the company, based east of Paris, said in a statement today. Sales fell 7.3 percent to 558.8 million euros.

Reduced numbers of Spanish and British guests booked shorter stays at the company’s hotels, Euro Disney said. Spain’s unemployment rate is more than double the European Union average, while Britons were deterred from traveling by a drop in the value of sterling against the euro. The theme park operator also sold less land to developers as property prices fell.

“Spain was clearly hit by the economic crisis and the U.K. was affected by the weak pound,” Chief Financial Officer Ignace Lahoud said in a telephone interview.

While Euro Disney’s resorts attracted more French, Belgian and Dutch families, visitors from those countries tend to book shorter stays at the company’s seven hotels and spend less money than Spanish and U.K. visitors, generating less revenue.

Euro Disney fell 38 cents, or 9.5 percent, to 3.61 euros in Paris trading, the biggest fall since January.

Hotel Occupancy

“While the overall attendance increased to the record 7.1 million people, we generated lower revenues because the mix of visitors has changed,” Lahoud said.

Sales at the resorts dropped 4 percent to 553.9 million euros in the first half, dragged down by a 7 percent decline in hotel revenue. Occupancy at the company’s seven hotels fell 2.7 percent and visitors spent less per room.

Real estate revenue declined by 20.2 million euros as Euro Disney completed only one transaction in the period compared with four in last year’s first half.

Marketing expenses increased by 6.1 percent to 64.4 million euros, the company said.

Euro Disney is controlled by Burbank, California-based Walt Disney Co., which owns a 40 percent stake. Saudi Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal is the second-biggest investor with 10 percent.

To contact the reporter on this story: Ladka Bauerova in Paris at lbauerova@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: April 28, 2009 11:48 EDT