The four-day International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Expo Asia 2025 in Shanghai is showcasing the latest technological advancements and innovative solutions from the participating exhibitors.
Running through Thursday at the Shanghai New International Expo Center and with a show floor spanning over 8,600 square meters, the international trade fair for the amusement industry in the Asia-Pacific region has gathered about 350 global entertainment players in the Chinese theme park capital.
Considered as the ultimate gathering of leaders in the global leisure and attractions industry, the premier, all-encompassing event offers an excellent opportunity for industry professionals seeking innovative products, solutions and partnerships to boost business growth.
In recent years, Shanghai has become a key investment destination for international theme park operators looking to capitalize on China's expanding entertainment and travel market, which now ranks as the world's second-largest. And through this year's expo, many have come to identify market opportunities in the country.
Jason Wallace serves as an international sales manager for The Entertainment Company, a global attraction supplier for entertainment centers. He came to the fair with the aim of building new business partnerships.
"We know the Chinese like to have fun. They like to have a lot of fun. So, these games all lend themselves perfectly to the Chinese market, but also the whole Southeast Asian market as well," Wallace said to the Central Global Television Network (CGTN) in an interview on Tuesday.
Jan Maarten de Raad, managing director for Jora Vision, a Dutch designer of theme parks, tourist destinations and museums, said innovation is the lifeline of the amusement industry and that China is the perfect place for global players to follow the evolution of the sector.
"Our industry is very vibrant, so every park needs to do something new every four years to keep the people coming to the park. So, theme park is never finished. You have to keep innovating and changing, so that's why we are also here at the show to show people new things which they can incorporate in their existing parks," he told CGTN.
In just two days, Legoland Shanghai Resort, one of the world's largest Legoland destinations, will open its doors in Shanghai's Jinshan District. It will add to the Chinese city's ever-growing list of amusement parks, which also includes the Shanghai Disneyland and the yet-to-open Peppa Pig theme park and the Harry Potter Studio Tour theme park.
Jakob Wahl, IAAPA's president and CEO, said China's booming amusement sector is the reason that industry insiders and theme park fans from across the world are eager to visit the country.
"People really travel [here] to experience all those wonderful and amazing attractions, and I can tell you some of those attractions are world-class. The Legoland which will open here in Shanghai is one of the biggest Legolands which was ever built. Disneyland Resort Shanghai has 'Pirates of the Caribbean' which has a reputation of being the best attraction worldwide, and people really want to come from all across the world to experience that and see that," he said.
According to the China Insights Consultancy, the scale of China's amusement park economy is projected to exceed 110 billion yuan (about 15.35 billion U.S. dollars) by 2028.
IAAPA Expo Asia 2025 showcase latest tech advancements, innovative solutions from participating exhibitors
