New funfair parks to come up in AP

Matching with the encouraging growth in amusement and leisure industry across the country, several new family entertainment centres and theme parks with an investment of around Rs 400 crore are expected to come up in Andhra Pradesh in the next 2-3 years.

Explaining the present trend in the entertainment industry, Balwant Chawla, the president of Indian Association of Amusement Parks and Industries(IAAPI), and K Srinivas Gupta, the chairman of AP chapter of the trade body , said here in a press conference that the industry has tremendous scope for development with an anticipated growth rate between 30-40 per cent in coming years.

According to the industry representatives, over 200 amusement parks, 100 theme parks and 200 family entertainment centers, with a total investment of Rs 3,000 crore and an annual turnover of about Rs 500 crore, have been operating in the country.

"With investments being expected to be doubled in the next three years, another 500 similar amusement and entertainment facilities would be added to the amusement industry by 2010," Balwant Chawla said. This category includes water parks, theme parks, multiplexes, and family-based entertainment centers.

"At present, only around 5 crore people have been visiting the theme parks annually. Given the size of the Indian population, the future scope is very high," Balwant Chawla said.

"With the same size of investment, this industry provides employment four times higher than the other sectors. Export potential of amusement machines by developing inhouse manufacturing facilities can also be looked at," he added.

A Prasad Rao, the vice-chairman of AP chapter of the association and director of Mount Opera, a theme park built on the outskirts of Hyderabad, said that more and more people are coming to spend their holidays and leisure time in theme parks and other entertainment centres located in and around the city.

"The current response will not only sustain these mega-budget theme parks, but also provide an impetus to the further development of the industry," he added.

The association representatives are expecting at least one theme park for every 10 million population in the near future.

With water parks witnessing huge response from the fun-loving people, especially from kids, the promoters are now gearing up to unveil more exciting snow parks in major cities. Mayabazar, a snow dome project with ice skiing facilities at Hyderabad, will be opened on Republic Day.

The Indian Association of Amusement Parks and Industries will organise a three-day trade show in Mumbai from March 11 to provide support and guidance to various players in the amusement industry, including prospective operators of amusement parks and centres.

Over 100 exhibitors including amusement park operators from abroad are expected to take part in the fair.