After a year of restrictions and uncertainties, the global amusement sector is preparing to restart, reactivating the fairs in view of the summer.
All is ready in the global amusement industry for a restart after a year of pandemic. Despite the hard test suffered by companies in the sector in any country, worldwide and in Europe, there are those who still look to the future with confidence, focusing on next summer. Now that also Easter - another moment of extraordinary importance for the arcades of the various countries - has been lost, we only have to hope for the summer season, with the reopening of the arcades, especially in the holiday resorts.
It is a pity, however, that, to date, the governments of most European countries have not yet spoken in a clear and definitive manner on the dates of reopening of public places and, in particular, precisely as regards gaming places, considered, in a rather widespread manner, "non-essential" activities. Worse in Italy where, in addition to the fact that an open debate on this issue, much less an internal discussion within the government has never been - at least until now - the verdict by
the Ministry of Economy has just arrived, which only said that “broadcasts will resume as soon as possible”, to use a well-known slogan in other forms of entertainment. By arguing that as soon as the conditions are met, it will be possible to start again. Without any indication: since the virus, unfortunately, doesn't warn in advance when it arrives or when it will stop circulating.
For this reason, the projects of all companies (as well as those of governments) seem to rely, more than anything else, on hopes, together with vaccines. In the more or less general belief that with the arrival of summer the virus can be archived. As happened last year, with the high temperature that reduced the infection to a minimum, allowing all activities to restart
AND RESTAR WILL BE - And it is precisely on this belief that the global Amusement industry marks the restart, starting with the reactivation of its reference events. The first one will be the
EAG Expo in London, which last January had also had to renounce its online edition, set up in response to the pandemic and with the impossibility of creating a "live" event. But at the beginning of the year the conditions for a virtual event also failed, as there is practically no type of market to talk about. Now, however, the climate has changed (in every sense) and since the show must go on, the British try again,
scheduling the online edition of the expo for April, 20 - 21.
Despite the situation, in fact, the online edition has attracted the interest of many exhibitors - they say from the event - and thanks to their contribution and that of various experts, visitors will be able to take part - at a distance - in a particularly relevant and topical webinar program that will take place during the two days.
As explained by
Eag Expo chairman, Martin Burlin: "The UK government's roadmap for exiting the lockdown has been of little comfort to our industry. However, some industry segments now have sure indications on reopening dates. but we will need some time to get ready for any advantage”. Nevertheless, the various exhibitors have worked tirelessly to produce various product presentations and these, together with the various topics that need to be discussed, will make Eag Online an "educational, positive and far-sighted event".
During the event Italy will once again be the protagonist, thanks to the panel organized by GiocoNews.it and dedicated to the (alleged) revolution ongoing on Italian market, sanctioned by the new regulation of the sector started by the legislator and being implemented by Italian regulator (AdM), that promises to generate a new market, of which there will be a lot to talk about.
AMERICA COMES BACK “LIVE” - In the meantime, however, on the other side of the ocean, the foot is put on the accelerator to definitively restart the sector. With the trade association Iaapa reminding the delay and setting new dates for its show in the presence, clearly believing that its US members will be able to open business and take part in mass events, already by the end of the year. So, the organization has published an updated list of events for the whole year, most of them virtual ones, but with the great return of the fair in
Orlando, Florida, in November, 15 – 18, 2021. Before, there will be one series of virtual events, from the water park forum on March, the 23rd, to the 7 - 8 April conference at the Latin American Summit on 13 - 14 April, all online events. Another “live” event will be the Latin American conference in Cancun, Mexico, in September, 8 - 9
ASIA GETS THE BALL ROLLING - However, the Asians will get the ball rolling of Amusement with the first "physical" meeting of the sector, which will take place in Zhuhal, China, on April, the 22nd, although there will be a return to the virtual with the Institute for attractions Managers in May, 10 – 13.
The first big show will still be Expo Asia, in Shanghai, from 10 to 13 August.
EUROPE STARTS FROM BELGIUM - In Europe, however, the spotlight will all be on Belgium, at the end of spring, with the first attempt of a show, again by Iaapa, scheduled from 8 to 10 June. Then, there are two other virtual events of the same organization, on safety and another aimed at attraction managers, on June, 16-17 and July, 26-30. The exhibitions in presence should then continue with the European exhibition Iaapa Expo Europe, scheduled in Barcelona, Spain, from 27 to 30 September.