IAAPA Expo Asia in Bangkok with “Solid Performance”
Photo: IAAPA
(eap) For the first time after 17 years, the annually held IAAPA Expo Asia (formerly: “Asian Attractions Expo”) took place in Thailand again, namely at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok. The show floor was open from May 28 to 30, where a total of 352 exhibitors presented their products and solutions for the leisure and attractions industry. According to the International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions (IAAPA), organizer of the trade fair, the event concluded with a “solid performance”. According to the official figures, a total of 4,623 participants were recorded for the three days of the trade fair, including 3,187 buyers representing 2,480 different companies. “IAAPA Expo Asia 2024 delivered a solid and respectable show. We are pleased to see our community come together in person to exchange ideas and showcase the future of the attractions industry,” said Jakob Wahl, President and CEO of the global industry association.
However, in terms of the exhibitor/visitor ratio and especially in comparison to the trade show’s results in the past (before the outbreak of Covid19), the number of participants in Bangkok is notably weak, although some exhibitors reported “good and high-quality conversations”. The 2019 edition of the expo, which was held in Shanghai (China), attracted some 11,400 participants, while the previous year’s events in Hong Kong (2018) and Singapore (2017) attracted 9,100 and 7,500 participants respectively. In 2016, when the trade fair was also held in Shanghai, there were even 11,500 participants registered. The fact that it is often much easier for industry professionals from China in particular to visit a trade fair venue of IAAPA Expo Asia, which actually covers the entire Asia-Pacific region, in their own country is likely to have influenced the decision for the location of next year’s event: from July 1 to 3, 2025, the Asia-Pacific leisure industry will once again come together on the show floor in Shanghai.
The next of the three global industry trade fairs held annually by IAAPA is the European edition, taking place from 24 to 26 September, 2024. This time, the convention center is once again the RAI Amsterdam (Netherlands), which last welcomed European leisure professionals in 2018. According to the current list of exhibitors, more than 650 manufacturers and suppliers will present themselves on the show floor, and high visitor numbers are also expected. Your EAP team will also be there as usual and is already looking forward to meeting you in person at the EAP booth #11627! ■
