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25 May 2016
Theme park operators in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) should collaborate more and promote the country as a whole if they hope to attract 18 million people per year by 2021, delegates at an industry event in Dubai heard this week.
The attendance target was announced by Philip Shepherd, a partner at consultancy firm PwC, at the Theme Parks & Entertainment Development Summit. IMG Worlds of Adventure, which will be one of the first attractions to open in August 2016, is expecting to attract 4.5 million visitors in its first 12 months in operation, but Shepherd said parks need to work closer together if they are to achieve the ambitious 2021 figure.
"Every one of the individual emirates has something to offer, not just the big brothers Dubai and Abu Dhabi, but the others too. I am a bit concerned that there is too much individualism in the emirates, with each one having a tendency to go it alone," he said. "I think there is a lot to be done to sell the entire country, not just the individual emirates."
IMG Worlds of Adventure, which was announced in 2012 and will be opened to the public on August 15, was one of a number of ambitious theme park developments on the drawing board in 2008 prior to the global financial crisis.
"We are the first park to open from that era of the time around 2008 and we are happy to set the benchmark for others who may open in the future," said Lennard Otto, IMG Worlds of Adventure CEO, adding that the attraction, billed as the world's largest indoor theme park, has capacity for 30,000 visitors per day.
Next in line in October will be Dubai Parks and Resorts, which will be home to four individual attractions - Legoland Dubai, Legoland Dubai Water Parks, the Hollywood-themed Motiongate and Bollywood Parks Dubai, as well as retail and dining development River Land and hotel resort Lapita.
The next phase of Dubai Parks & Resorts will be Six Flags, the American theme park franchise famed for its giant rollercoaster rides, with a completion date yet to be announced.
Meanwhile, in Abu Dhabi emirate, a new Warner Brothers theme park is due to join Ferrari World on Yas Island in 2018. Ferrari World has expansion plans of its own; marketing director Manuri Anthonis announced at the summit that three new "never done before" rides are to be constructed and are due to open in early 2017.
© Zawya 2016
Theme park operators in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) should collaborate more and promote the country as a whole if they hope to attract 18 million people per year by 2021, delegates at an industry event in Dubai heard this week.
The attendance target was announced by Philip Shepherd, a partner at consultancy firm PwC, at the Theme Parks & Entertainment Development Summit. IMG Worlds of Adventure, which will be one of the first attractions to open in August 2016, is expecting to attract 4.5 million visitors in its first 12 months in operation, but Shepherd said parks need to work closer together if they are to achieve the ambitious 2021 figure.
"Every one of the individual emirates has something to offer, not just the big brothers Dubai and Abu Dhabi, but the others too. I am a bit concerned that there is too much individualism in the emirates, with each one having a tendency to go it alone," he said. "I think there is a lot to be done to sell the entire country, not just the individual emirates."
IMG Worlds of Adventure, which was announced in 2012 and will be opened to the public on August 15, was one of a number of ambitious theme park developments on the drawing board in 2008 prior to the global financial crisis.
"We are the first park to open from that era of the time around 2008 and we are happy to set the benchmark for others who may open in the future," said Lennard Otto, IMG Worlds of Adventure CEO, adding that the attraction, billed as the world's largest indoor theme park, has capacity for 30,000 visitors per day.
Next in line in October will be Dubai Parks and Resorts, which will be home to four individual attractions - Legoland Dubai, Legoland Dubai Water Parks, the Hollywood-themed Motiongate and Bollywood Parks Dubai, as well as retail and dining development River Land and hotel resort Lapita.
The next phase of Dubai Parks & Resorts will be Six Flags, the American theme park franchise famed for its giant rollercoaster rides, with a completion date yet to be announced.
Meanwhile, in Abu Dhabi emirate, a new Warner Brothers theme park is due to join Ferrari World on Yas Island in 2018. Ferrari World has expansion plans of its own; marketing director Manuri Anthonis announced at the summit that three new "never done before" rides are to be constructed and are due to open in early 2017.
© Zawya 2016
