Saudi Arabia’s Leisure Industry in Focus: MENALAC’s First Networking Event in the Kingdom A Success
Während des zweitägigen Networking-Events hatten die Teilnehmer Gelegenheit, u.a. die Snow City in Riad zu besuchen.
“Focus on Saudi Arabia” was the title of the very first networking and seminar event of the Middle East & North Africa Leisure and Attractions Council (MENALAC) held in Saudi Arabia. More than 100 professionals from the regional leisure industry as well as representatives from leading manufacturing companies from Europe and the US gathered in Riyadh this past December to attend the two-day event. Its focus was laid on the development opportunities of Saudi Arabia’s leisure and entertainment sectors.
Among the keynote speakers was Mohannad Abanomy, Director of Infrastructure Development at the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), established in 2016 to develop and promote the national leisure sector. “We foresee a very bright future for the industry and its players […],” commented Abanomy. International safety standards were also an important topic of the event: Markus Mack-Even and Shyam Pillai, members of the MENALAC Safety Committee, compared EN and ASTM safety standards applicable for high-quality rides and attractions. Furthermore, participants had the opportunity to visit leading indoor entertainment locations in the city, including the Snow City winter sports hall, the Saffori Land entertainment complex and the Magic Planet kids’ playground.
Mishal Al Hokair, Vice Chairman of MENALAC, is satisfied with the success of the networking event: “It is the vision of MENALAC to host such events in every country within the MENA Region. This was our first event outside Dubai, UAE and we are overwhelmed by the response we have received for this event. It clearly shows the appetite the market has for such educational initiatives and networking platforms […],” concluded Al Hokair. (eap)
