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Bangkok Post
10-07-2025
- Business
- Bangkok Post
Association upbeat on growth outlook for amusement parks
Despite global economic uncertainties, the amusement park industry expects continued robust growth over the next few years, according to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA). However, a labour shortage remains an obstacle for the industry following the pandemic. Jack Chan, vice-president and executive director of IAAPA Asia-Pacific, said industry growth has been buoyed by a growing middle class in the region, urbanisation and rising demand for high-quality leisure activities. The association expects robust growth for the industry through to 2028, said Mr Chan. "As long as the industry focuses on innovation, I think it's pretty resilient," he said. According to IAAPA, theme and amusement parks in this region are expected to draw more than 425 million visitors, generating expenditure tallying US$19 billion by the end of this year. Mr Chan said many operators have been investing in tailoring experiences for guests, such as adopting immersive experiences and utilising local festivals as their themes. He said this practice enables visitors to engage in festive events in the parks, such as Chinese New Year, Christmas, Halloween or even Songkran celebrations. These are cultural experiences that relate to local visitors and offer foreigners the opportunity to learn more about the country. He said technology helps leverage the guest experience, citing the the example of a virtual queuing system that helps visitors spend time elsewhere while waiting for the opportunity to enter, along with a software application that helps tailor tour itineraries. New technology can also be used to enhance the visitor experience. One such example involves making roller coaster rides run faster and the experience feel scarier and more exciting. As many visitors to theme and amusement parks these days are millennials and members of Generation Z, who tend to opt for a personalisation experience that can be shared via social media, operators are purposely developing their programmes in order to attract their attention, which would lead to more frequent visits every year, he said. Regarding competition between theme parks that feature a well known intellectual property (IP) brand, such as Disneyland, and non-branded parks, Mr Chan said these distinct categories complement each other rather than compete with each other. He said IP-branded parks may have stronger brand loyalty, but they also have more restrictions when it comes to design, whereas non-branded operators have greater flexibility to create their own journey, and these are thriving in many markets as the operators understand their customers. Developers are continuing to invest in new attractions this year, including Legoland Shanghai, and the safari-style Qingyuan Chimelong Resort, said Mr Chan. On the subject of the Chinese outbound market, Mr Chan said operators in Asia have started to restore the Chinese market, although it may take longer than predicted earlier to reach the level seen prior to the pandemic. A more critical issue is how to attract this market in the long run, such as by providing language translation services, or organising unique events. Other challenges for the sector include the labour shortage, which began during the pandemic as many workers opted for other jobs that allowed them to work remotely, according to Mr Chan. However, he said the industry is in a good position to compete for talent, as it offers several job opportunities. The association provides training and networking events for young professionals. The group held the IAAPA Expo Asia in Shanghai from June 30 to July 3, which attracted more than 300 exhibitors.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
IAAPA Expo thinking bigger at convention center
The IAAPA Expo plans to expand its footprint at Orange County Convention Center, a move that is said to reflect the health of the tourism industry and the boom of related segments. The annual trade show will move in the convention center's West Concourse for the first time in 2026. Previously it has been only in the North and South concourses. 'The industry is growing. We see that with the projects like Epic Universe, but we also see it with all the smaller attractions, which happen everywhere now — if it's a Ripley's Mirror Maze or if it's a Puttshack or if it's a PopStroke — all those little attractions are actually contributing the success of the attraction industry,' said Jakob Wahl, president of the Orlando-based International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, a k a IAAPA. The expo is known for its vast, teeming trade floor that includes vendors of all manner of manufacturers and creative types, ranging from water-slide equipment to major roller coasters to plush animals for carnival games to theme park announcements. The assortment of participants has been diversifying, Wahl said. 'We have seen more and more resorts coming, more and more cruise ships,' he said. 'We have seen an increased growth of food and beverage vendors, and we're working on an increased focus on technology vendors. There are many, many companies in that space.' Gator with bungee-corded jaw rescued, relocated to Gatorland The 2025 expo floor is sold out with more than 1,100 vendors, some of which will set up shop in the convention center parking lot. The event had more than 40,000 attendees last year. IAAPA Expo, which also includes educational sessions and excursions to Central Florida attractions, introduced themed pavilions last year, including an area devoted to food and beverage companies and a Halloween-driven section. 'We want to expand and, at the same time, we want to use that expansion to further grow the show, to be more creative, to be more global and to be also more immersive,' Wahl said. 'This is where we will introduce some pavilions next year at the show to really cater to new industry, to new segments of our expo which might not have had the same presence as we thought in the past,' he said. Orlando's Titanic attraction adds recovered necklace to artifact lineup This year's expo begins Nov. 17, but the expansion into the West Concourse is scheduled to kick in next year. 'Such an expansion, actually, is not that easy to execute,' Wahl said. 'We actually start working up to one and a half years in advance on the floor plan.' IAAPA Expo has been an annual presence at the convention center since 2010. IAAPA moved its home base from Alexandria, Virginia, to Orlando in 2017 and later constructed its global headquarters on Taft-Vineland Road. Universal Studios: 'M3GAN' again has moves in theme park Email me at dbevil@ BlueSky: @themeparksdb. Threads account: @dbevil. X account: @themeparks. Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at
Leaders
15-02-2025
- Business
- Leaders
IAAPA Middle East Summit 2025: Riyadh Rises as Global Entertainment Hub
The Global Association for Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) will host its Middle East Trade Summit 2025 in Riyadh, another testament to Saudi Arabia's status as a global hub for entertainment. IAAPA announced it will host the summit in collaboration with Riyadh Season, at Boulevard City from February 17-19, 2025, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). The IAAPA Middle East Trade Summit 2025 will bring together experts and industry leaders from around the world to explore the latest trends and opportunities in the entertainment sector. Moreover, the event will feature dialogue sessions, providing opportunities to network with industry stakeholders and top experts in entertainment destinations, water parks and family entertainment centers. It will also include an exclusive exhibition showcasing innovative products and services. منتدى المنظمة الدولية لمدن الملاهي يتيح فرص التقاء الخبراء والمبتكرين في صناعة الترفيه ومناقشة أبرز التوجهات العالمية 😍❤️ 17 – 19 فبراير 🗓️ الرياض، بوليفارد سيتي 📍 The IAAPA Middle East Trade Summit brings together experts and innovators to discuss key global trends in… — موسم الرياض | Riyadh Season (@RiyadhSeason) February 14, 2025 The selection of Riyadh to host this mega event for the second time in a row underscores Saudi Arabia's growing influence as a pioneer in the entertainment industry, in line with Saudi Vision 2030 which aims to diversify the national economy and establish global entertainment destinations. In the light of this, the IAAPA Middle East Trade Summit 2025 will highlight the Kingdom's rapid transformation towards becoming a global entertainment hub. On this occasion, the CEO of IAAPA, Jakob Wahl, expressed excitement about hosting the event in Saudi Arabia. 'We are excited to host IAAPA Middle East Trade Summit 2025 in Riyadh, the city that shapes the future of global attraction industry,' he said Wahl also emphasized that this event will display the latest innovations in the Middle East, in addition to strengthening cooperation and inspiring new ideas that will shape the future of entertainment worldwide. Short link : Post Views: 28
