ASIAN ATTRACTIONS EXPO IAAPA’s centennial anniversary marked by 27 per cent growth
W
ith more than 9000 participants, the success of the 2018 edition of IAAPA’s Asian Attractions Expo demonstrates the
continued rapid growth of the attractions industry in the Asia-Pacific region The International Association of Amusement Parks
and Attractions (IAAPA) turns 100 years old in 2018. What better way to celebrate than with a participation increase of more than a quarter in its premier trade show for the Asian attractions industry? The Asian Attractions Expo, which changes location
between major Asian cities each year, took place in 2018 from 5-8 June at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Preliminary estimates reported by IAAPA indicate the Expo attracted more than 9,000 participants, which included 6,500 qualified buyers and 393 exhibiting companies. The increase on 2017's event in Singapore of participants, buyers, and exhibiting companies is a great reflection on the strength and energy of the global attractions industry. The total number of buyers in attendance from all
facets of the attractions and leisure industry represented a 27 percent increase from Asian Attractions Expo 2017, and a 7 percent increase from 2015, when the Expo was last held in Hong Kong. "We were excited to bring Asian Attractions Expo
2018 back to Hong Kong,” comments Hal McEvoy, interim president and CEO, IAAPA. “This is the only show IAAPA hosts in Asia, and the international representation from exhibiting companies and attendees demonstrated the appeal of the destination
and the strength of the global attractions industry. It's been a great Expo and we've enjoyed celebrating IAAPA's 100th anniversary with our members and colleagues from around the world." Michael Wong, development secretary of the
Hong Kong KSAR Government, addressed Expo participants during the event's Opening Ceremony, which also included entertainment and a traditional Chinese mask-changing performance from Chimelong Park, located in Guangdong, China.
Innovation reigns The Asian Attractions Expo 2018 featured 393 companies, showcasing their new and innovative products across 10,224 sq m of space on the trade show floor. Highlights included the launch of Li-Fly by
experiential design firm Holovis - a scalable turn-key attraction that aims to ‘re-volves’ the traditional flying theatre experience by taking guests out of their seats and letting them soar through content as if truly flying. Li-Fly uses a uniquely developed 5-DOF motion system that holds up to 100 guests tilted into a prone position before elevating them over a highly immersive, ultra- high-resolution dome screen to deliver a “compelling and completely unique” flying experience. Brogent Technologies also launched a new kind of
flying theatre - the m-Ride, as well as more details on the opening of the southern hemisphere’s first flying theatre, an I-Ride scheduled to open at Dreamworld on the Gold Coast of Australia in late December
2018. Dutch ride manufacturer Vekoma, meanwhile
unveiled new branding designed to reflect ongoing evolution of coasters and attractions. “We felt it was the right timing to express this in our branding by creating a visual identity that stands for creativity, cutting edge technology, quality & safety.”
Trading by numbers Attendance at AAE’s education conference totalled almost 1,600, which included 61 participants in the IAAPA Institute for Attractions Managers, and 95 at the IAAPA Safety Institute. 826 people celebrated IAAPA's 100th anniversary
at the Opening Night Reception at Ocean Park Hong Kong, and 105 people later participated in the EDUTour to the park. A further EDUTour to Hong Kong Disneyland also attracted 105 people. 341 people attended the sold-out Leadership
Breakfast, featuring keynote speaker Dr. Allan Zeman, Chairman of Lan Kwai Fong Group. 178 people attended the Lunch and Learn event on developing successful ride and show entertainment with virtual reality (VR) and projection mapping technology. The Asian Attractions Expo 2019 will be held at
the Shanghai New International Expo Centre in China, from 11-14 June - and with more than 271 companies already signed up to exhibit, it looks set to be another demonstration of the continued strength of a thriving industry.
iaapa.org
IAAPA Board of Directors with June Ko, vice president IAAPA Asia-Pacific Operations. JULY 2018
The Leadership Breakfast featured a keynote address from Dr. Allan Zeman, GBM, GBS, JP, Chairman of Lan Kwai Fong Group
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