Leisure operators across the UAE and GCC are confident about their re-opening strategies, and business bouncing back as lockdown restrictions ease.

Companies operating leisure facilities such as family entertainment centres in malls, amusement parks, theme parks, and cinema theatres, have been focused on maintaining new health, safety, and social distancing measures before they open to the public. This has been a critical step in ensuring that consumers have the confidence to return and enjoy the facilities.

"The Covid-19 crisis has changed the whole world and our industry is no exception," said Silvio Liedtke, VP of the Middle East and North Africa Leisure Attractions Council (MENALAC). "Consumers will have to continue social distancing in all public facilities till the situation improves. As governments ease restrictions and enable our industry to get back on our feet, it becomes our collective responsibility to ensure that we all take adequate measures for a prolonged period of time so that we don't need to go through a lockdown yet again."

Liedtke revealed that the Health and Safety Committee is working on a recommended minimum standards and procedures programme for operations to follow. This will be shared with all the members in due course.

According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), the international visitor impact on the Middle East's leisure tourism industry is estimated at Dh375 billion, of which 79 per cent, or Dh295.7 billion is in the leisure tourism industry that includes theme parks, amusement parks and family entertainment centres. Along with direct and indirect contribution, the Middle East's Travel and Tourism industry generates Dh870 billion worth of economic activity, a large chunk of which is generated by the leisure entertainment industry.

Visitors spent $266 million in the Middle East's theme parks in 2018, which rose to $302 million in 2019, data from the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) showed. The revenues from the theme parks, amusement parks and family entertainment centres was expected to jump 33 per cent to $404 million this year - prior to the Covid-19 crisis - to a projected $609 million by 2023.

Sheikha Monira Al Sabah, CEO of Play Enterprise and co-founder of Trampo Extreme, noted that there will be an increased focus on cleaning procedures. "Hand sanitisers will be placed all over our centres, staff will be wearing masks and gloves. We will also be disinfecting our playground around the hour with limiting guest capacity. We have provided our employees with training on guest health safety and entrance guidelines. We will offer special packages for people in the frontline and their families as rewards for their hard work. We will also have competitive prices to attract our customers."

Andre PA van der Byl, director of Operations at Al Hokair Group, also shared plans about re-opening the parks. "We have selected 12 parks for a Phase one opening. We are investing in the team that include subsistence and strong well-being practice. We are stripping everything down to clean and re-build from scratch to meet the new health and safety requirements."

rohma@khaleejtimes.com