Lesson in resilience

Lesson in resilience

23 April 2021 Off By Facto Edizioni

/ RAAPA Expo 2021, held recently in Moscow, is currently the parks and attractions sector’s only in-person trade show in the world /

In a ‘reassuring’ Moscow, where since the start of 2021 everything has practically returned to normal, with the reopening of shops, offices, schools, theatres, cinemas, restaurants, etc. with normal opening hours and practically no limitations – except for the obligation to wear a mask in shops and on public transport – the traditional RAAPA Expo, organised by the same-name association of parks and attractions was held with in-person attendance from 30 March to 1 April. 

However, all those who would have wanted to enjoy some new-found normality at the show were not able to do so, as in the rest of the world there were still strict lockdowns and severe travel restrictions due to the spread of coronavirus and its variants. Consequently, the overwhelming majority of participants at the Moscow event were Russians with attendance, however, much lower than in the past.

Just over 100 exhibitors – against the 150 in 2020 and around 200 in 2019 – with very few foreigners, present either indirectly or in some rare cases through their representative offices in Russia (the case of Italian companies SBF-Visa Group and Zamperla, and Canada-based  WhiteWater). It should be noted, however, that out of 100 companies, 9 were exhibiting for the first time.

The number of visitors totalled just over 2,000: not a small number, but half compared to past averages.

As for the products on display, alongside attractions for children and families, indoor and outdoor playgrounds and animatronics that are always an important part of this show, there was also confirmation of a trend that…

Continue reading Games & Parks Industry April 2021, page 52

Foto Courtesy: RAAPA

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