Preliminary estimates indicate more than 3, 500 people, including 2, 700 buyers from 40 countries, participated in Asian Attractions Expo 2009. The four-day event, produced by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), took place 9 – 12 June at the COEX Convention and Exhibition Centre in Seoul.
Participants attended industry educational sessions, visited local attractions, built relationships at networking events, learned about what’s new in the industry, and purchased products and services on the trade show floor.
“Given the worldwide concerns over the H1N1 virus, the current political climate in the region, and the state of the global economy, we are pleased that more than 3, 500 people participated in Asian Attractions Expo 2009, ” said IAAPA President and CEO Charles Bray. “We greatly appreciate the strong support for this year’s Expo from throughout Asia and particularly from our host country of South Korea, ” Bray added.
Asian Attractions Expo 2009 Overview
– The vibrant and colorful trade show floor featured exhibits from 142 companies representing 26 nations around the world. They displayed new attractions, products, and services for the attractions industry on 2, 895 square meters of exhibit space.
– One hundred ten (110) attractions industry professionals participated in the IAAPA Safety Institute pre-show conference on 9 June to learn more about industry best practices in theme park and waterpark safety, training, documentation, facility maintenance, and international safety standards.
– Attendance at other Expo education programs exceeded 400, and participants learned about guest service, technology, incorporating Asian values in employee training programs, trends in waterpark development, and the state of the industry in Asia. They also attended Leadership Luncheons to hear Vice President of OCT Enterprises Company Gang Wang describe the growth of the industry in Asia and Director General of Seoul Grand Park Won Hyo Lee address the industry’s performance during difficult economic times.
– Expo participants enjoyed tours of local attractions including Everland Resort and Caribbean Bay waterpark, Seoul Land, and Ocean World at Vivaldi Park.
– A number of meetings and Expo networking events, including an opening reception, a reception for young professionals, and the Asian Attractions Awards, provided participants numerous opportunities to meet, share ideas, and develop important business relationships.
– Asian Attractions Expo 2009 sponsors were Gold Sponsor Gary Goddard Entertainment and Silver Sponsors 3DBA, JN Entertainment Leisure Consultancy, Kraftwerk Living Technologies International, PBS&J, and U.K. Trade and Investment.
Attendees Visit Local Attractions, Learn, Network, and Look for New Products
“It has been very interesting. This is my first time at the Asian Expo. It’s very good for making contacts and networking, ” said Chang-Gyoon Kim from Dream Park in Korea. Continuing, Kim added, “We’re going to build a waterpark, so I’m interested in inflatables and aquatic products. There are many good products at the show.”
“(Asian Attractions Expo) is a good opportunity to visit theme parks in the city where the Expo is held. The education program is also really good, ” said Vicky Lethirapathy, manager for Jungle Zone Theme Park. “For us, based in Qatar, it is good to come out of the Gulf area for new ideas and to see what’s out here; this Expo is a very good opportunity for that. It’s a very good setup, location, and organization. I’ll definitely be back next year, ” she said.
Exhibitors Make Deals, Introduce New Products, and Develop Relationships
“This is our third time at the Asian Expo – our new product is already sold out! Many of our customers are here and we are presenting our new ideas and designs to them. We will attend the Expo every year, and will definitely be at next year’s fair, ” said Vivian Pan, manager assistant from inflatable company Cheer Amusement Corporation in China.
“This is our first time at the Expo. There are many good opportunities, and we’ve had a very good response. There are a lot of Korean customers, a lot of potential in Asia for us, and we’ve made good contacts, ” said Medhy Menad, president of Showtime Entertainment Productions in Dubai, UAE.
“It was such a good opportunity to exhibit our products, ” said Soo-hyun Lee with Korean inflatable company Gymbounce. “We saved a lot of time and money because we dealt with many companies from all over the world in one place.”
Colin Robertson from U.K.-based LoQ said, “We managed to meet many of the people we wanted to meet, and we have set up several meetings in the region.”
Asian Attractions Expo Moves to Malaysia in 2010
Asian Attractions Expo 2010 will be held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre in Malaysia, 13-16 July, 2010. More than 57 companies have already reserved nearly 50 percent of the available exhibit space for the show. Information about exhibiting at next year’s event is available at www.IAAPA.org.
About IAAPA
IAAPA is the premier trade association for the attractions industry worldwide. Founded more than 90 years ago, IAAPA is the largest international trade association for permanently situated amusement facilities and attractions and is dedicated to the preservation and prosperity of the amusement industry. IAAPA represents more than 4, 000 facility, supplier, and individual members from more than 90 countries.
See also:
IALEI and IAAPA Evaluate Potential Merger
Amusement Business: IAAPA Decides Not to Hold IAAPA Connections 2009
IAAPA Connections Debuts February 24 – 26, 2009 in Bahamas
