Visitor numbers up 65 per cent at Theme Parks & Fun Centres show

A total of 5,127 trade buyers from 51 countries attended TPFC 2004, a massive increase on the 3,177 visitors who came from 37 countries for last year's edition.

The show, organized by International Expo Consults (IEC) at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre, registered a growth rate of 30% over last year's exhibition space with the number of countries represented at the show also increasing from 25 to 27 spanning North and South America, Europe, the Middle and Far East, Indian sub continent and Australia.

This year 111 companies exhibited and more than 70 per cent have already said they are interested in coming back next year.

Abdul Rahman Falaknaz, President, IEC, said: "A large number of international amusement associations were present at the show, which reflects the excellent brand value the event commands in the world market.

"This was the biggest TPFC and we are expecting an even larger turnout next year both in terms of exhibitor numbers and the range of businesses.

"We will again be hosting a number of seminar sessions from industry experts and decision makers, as this was a big success this year, and we will be introducing new categories ranging from themed cultural displays and themed retail stores to haunted attractions and dark rides."

TPFC will be returning to the Dubai International Exhibition Centre next year from April 24 - 26 and IEC is predicting an increase in floor space by between 20 and 30 per cent.

And the prognosis looks good with several visitors saying they will be back at the show in exhibitor status.

First time visitor Jalil Qara, Chief Executive of Fun Land Pakistan, which runs a waterpark in Lahore, is coming back as an exhibitor next year after striking a deal to buy a wave pool for his company.

He said; "Visiting TPFC has proved a massive success for me because I met up with Ionex Engineering from Ahmedabad in Western India which will now supply me with the wave pool equipment I have been looking for. I will be back next year with my own stand."

Inoex Engineering's P S Malhotra, also a first time visitor, said he would also be back in 2005 as an exhibitor.

He said: "I have done this deal with Fun Land Pakistan which is very good business and I have also made a lot of good contacts that I can follow up. It is an excellent show for our company and we will be taking a space next year."

One of the highlights of this year's show was participation by London's Natural History Museum. Its Head of Marketing Andrew Sanders said exhibiting at had proved a big success and would probably result in a return visit next year.

He said: "People have been interested in our touring exhibitions and we have spoken to corporate clients interested in starting their own museums.

In particular we have a lot of interest from the Dubailand project and from Kuwait and Oman."

First time participation paid off for Scotland's Totem Ticket Machines and Systems. Malcolm Meikle, the company's Sales Director said next year's show was high on its participation agenda.

He said: "We have some business in the Middle East already but we are looking for agents in the region and we have met a number of good contacts. Our business is mainly in Europe and the US but we are looking to build more business in the fast growing market in this region."

A crowd-puller at the show was the Real Sports Football game of Canada's Visual Sports Systems. Joanne Broders, the company's Director of Sales said sales were brisk.

She said: "The first day was fantastic and we sold six units of our football game and made a lot of good contacts. There is huge interest in football in the Middle East so our goalkeeper game is proving very popular. We will definitely be back next year."

Busy from day one was the stand of Belgian simulator company Electrosonics. The company's Jason Robinson said: "We make 3D and 4D large scale simulators and we are now looking at a number of proposals for fun parks and shopping malls from visitors we met here from across the region. If these enquiries firm up as well as we expect them to then we will be back next year."

Regular exhibitor Italy's Fabri Group said the show is now vital to the company as the region accounts for 30% of its business. Fabri's Michele Colombari commented: "The growth market at the moment is for kiddie rides and we have about 40 products in this field. We have met a lot of good contacts at the show this year but it will be September before we know if this is firmed up into actual business."

TPFC has the support of the American Amusement Machines Association (AAMA), the International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions (IAAPA) and the Themed Entertainment Association.