Show Review parkworld-online.com


The Indian Association of


Amusement Parks and Industries (IAAPI) held its 16th Amusement Expo earlier this month in


Mumbai. John Davies reports for Park World


IAAPI 2016 S


taged at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, the show was officially opened by IAAPI president Ajay Sarin alongside former IAAPA chairman Darrell Metzger


during a colourful ceremony on Wednesday, March 3. It then continued until Saturday the 5th. More than 100 exhibitors from 19 countries were in attendance, occupying some 8,000 square-metres of floor space inside and outside the venue. Organisers and exhibitors pulled together to transform a hot, humid and extremely dusty environment into the carpeted professional exhibition hall that greeted visitors on opening day. However, the colony of squawking crows living in the roof space were never too far away, which kept exhibitors on their toes throughout the show! Fortunately, the exhibition seemed busy for all three


days, with 2,700 industry professionals passing through the doors according to IAAPI. Many exhibitors commented that there was no sign of the usual last day drop off in visitors that is often witnessed at other shows. Generally the feedback from those who had exhibited previously was that the Indian market was beginning to expand and the next few years would bring the kind of business they were hoping for in the region. In fact the Indian amusement park and attractions


industry industry has been growing at a compounded annual growth rate of more than 17.5%, with an annual revenue of approximately 17 billion rupees


Indian amusement industry meets in Mumbai


(US$250m/€230m) and this is expected to increase to at least 40 billion rupees (US$600m/€540) by 2020. Parks in India attract more than 30 million visitors annually. Children in school groups or families make up some 25% of visitors, with adults (typically with their families or in corporate groups) making up the remaining 75%. As well as the sort of exhibits you would expect, the Expo also had a good selection of food outlets, however the food at the IAAPI Awards for Excellence ceremony held on the second evening at the majestic Lalit Hotel was really excellent. This was a glitzy “Bollywood” style ceremony lasting almost two hours, with many awards being handed out including recognition for various show sponsors. IAAPI Amusement Expo looks like a show which will continue to thrive as the Indian market grows over the coming years and this is reflected by the fact that more international suppliers are attending each year. Dates for the 2017 event are February 22 to 24, at the same venue in Mumbai.


www.iaapi.org


John Davies was an exhibitor at IAAPI with Interlink, and on the other side of the camera for once. Get the next issue of Park World for our exclusive exhibitor photos and other highlights from the event – or see them now at parkworld–online.com/IAAPI2016


The IAAPI awards ceremony was a glitzy affair


MARCH 2016


33


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48