At a time when the economy has been facing a slowdown in nearly all segments, the amusement parks sector has recorded a growth and their projections show that this trend is going to continue in the years ahead.

“We have recorded a modest  increase of 8 per cent in the year 2013, at a time when the overall health of the Indian economy wasn’t too encouraging. This has made us all very optimistic about the future. Many theme parks have sprung up in different parts of the country,’’ says Yogesh Dange, President of Indian Association of Amusement Parks and Industries (IAAPI).

IAAPI is an apex body representing the interest of diverse range of amusement, leisure and entertainment business in India.

India ‘s largest amusement park Adlab’s IMAGICA - which became operational in April, 2013, is proof of how this sector is faring. This park came up with a huge investment of  Rs 1,500 crore.

We are optimistic that these kinds of investments will become common in the amusement park sector in the years ahead. There are likely to be many joint venture partnerships between Indian companies and leading international players,’’ says Dange.

The annual revenue of this sector in India was approximately Rs 1,500 crore in 2008 and is estimated to grow to at least Rs 4,000 crore by 2020.

looking at the robust growth our sector will focus on new technologies for amusement park industry which includes amazing rides, gaming machines and simulators to name a few,’’ says Ajay Sarin, 1st vice president of IAAPI.

IAAPI is having its 14th Expo in Mumbai between 5th and 7th February, which will have over 80 exhibitors from domestic and international companies. The international companies are from across 15 countries which include Australia , Canada , China , Germany , Hong Kong , Italy , the Philippines , Russia , Spain , the Netherlands , Turkey , UAE , UK and the U.S.

We will be having a special session on the safety of amusement parks and international speakers will share their views and experiences . Two of the speakers are from the U.S and there is one each from  Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates. This will enable us to compare our safety standards with that of these countries and, ‘’ says Dange. The chairperson of the International Association of Amusement Parks, US, Mario O Memon Expo is the chief guest at the Expo.

The Expo would enable Indian companies to network and partner with international companies. The companies are not just in the amusement sectorbut also real estate developers, mall developers, architects, consultants, ride manufactures and allied professionals of the entertainment and leisure industry.

There is a need to encourage people to visit these amusement parks as it is clean and unadulterated entertainment,’’ says Jose Punnose, of Navodaya  Mass Entertainment, Chennai.

Visiting amusement parks need to tap foreign tourists in India. Statistics reveal that only 3 per cent of people tourists in India visit amusement parks compared to this 59 per cent tourists visit amusement parks in countries like the US, Singapore and Australia. There is a large potential that needs to be tapped in India.

One way of doing this is through a joint initiative by the private sector and government. When Anant Kumar was the Tourism Minister - over a decade back - he had agreed that there was a need to inform people about the presence of amusement parks through brochures. Had this been followed avidly, it would have given a further boost to our sector,’’ says Santokh Chawla, former president of Ananth Kumar was a decade back , the amusement park in their tourism brochures to present information that was needed . If followed , will help our region,’’ says Santokh Chawla  of Polo Amusement Park ltd, which owns Fun and Food Kingdom in Delhi.

Meanwhile, market intelligence firm Euromonitor has pointed out that 153 amusement parks have come up in India between 1984 and 2013. It started with Appu Ghar in Delhi, set up by a Sweden-based Indian enterprenuer - this park was shut in 2008. However, another pioneer Mumbai’s Essel World began in 1986 - promoted by media baron Subash Chandra and partner Ashok Goel and it continues to do well.