Park People
Mario Mamon IAAPA Q Lines
When did you first become involved with IAAPA?
I attended my first IAAPA trade show in Dallas in 1992, becoming a member in 1993. At the time we were making plans for our theme park but didn't know where to start and then someone suggested IAAPA at a trade show we were attending in Hong Kong [Asian Attractions Expo, now owned by IAAPA]. Initially we were on a fact-finding mission, but we were convinced there was a future for us going into this business.
Who and what encouraged you to get involved with the various IAAPA committees?
I had received so much support from my industry peers that I really wanted to get more involved with IAAPA. In 1999 I was nominated as a member of the board of directors by Rene Aziz, then vice-chairman. Feeling more attached to the association, I volunteered on various committees, mainly anything to do with Asia, education or increasing membership. It was at Asian Attractions Expo in Kuala Lumpur in 2010 that Bob Masterson broached the idea of chairmanship. I thought he was kidding at first, but it was the last day for submitting applications, so I applied anyway and the rest is history. I feel very fortunate to be the man of the moment this year in Orlando, and I still cannot really believe it.
Eighteen years ago Mario Mamon and his family founded the Philippines’ first theme park, Enchanted Kingdom. A former sugar cane farmer, Mario has taken the amusement industry to his heart, helping to establish the Philippine Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions (PhilAAPA), serving on multiple IAAPA committees and playing a pivotal role in the association’s push into Asia. Earlier this year, Enchanted Kingdom announced plans that will transform the park into a destination resort and now, as IAAPA Attractions Expo approaches in Orlando, Mario Mamon is preparing to become chairman of the board at IAAPA. At this special point in his career, Mario Mamon speaks to Park World editor Owen Ralph.
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What are your targets for the association over the coming year? For the first time during my role as chairman, IAAPA will have a three-year strategic plan in place, which is which is very different from before. So really the challenge is keeping the plan on track, sticking to our mantra of “one world, one IAAPA” while at the same time addressing different government issues around the world and giving special emphasis to growth areas, especially in Asia.
Where would you identify as hot spots for the industry right now? Certainly China is a hot spot; it’s just a matter of how they do things and whether it is always for the good of the industry. Some of the Chinese parks and resorts are used solely for real estate play, but then there are some operators who really concentrate on doing good developments. For people like Chimelong it’s primarily about the amusements and attractions, and then the real estate is second. After China, the second most populated country in the world is India, it's one of the world's emerging economies and we see a lot of development there. The third most populous country is the USA, and then
NOVEMBER 2013
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