[4] However, from the third year of operation onwards, the number of visitors rapidly dropped due to the economic downturn caused by the bursting of the bubble economy and the loss of popularity.

[4] As a result, in 1997, the private company withdrew, leaving Noboribetsu City virtually holding the entire operation.

[9] Under this restructuring plan, Kamori Kanko became the largest shareholder[9] by transferring the 25% stake (100 million yen investment) owned by Noboribetsu City without compensation, and "Hokkaido Marine Park" became a private company from the third sector.

In addition, the company improved the impression of the food by introducing homemade dishes prepared by chefs, and increased the number of foreign guests from overseas to about 34% of the total visitors, thereby expanding and stabilizing sales.

[11] In 2021, a joint research team at the Noboribetsu Marine Park Nixe, Azabu University and Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine elucidated pathological changes in individuals that lead to early detection of avian aspergillosis, a respiratory disease that penguins are particularly susceptible to and has been considered difficult to treat, and published their research results on diagnosis and treatment by CT scan in the Official Journal of the Japanese Society of Veterinary Science, an academic journal.