According to Karen Staley, senior vice-president of IAAPA, holding the event in Barcelona has been a strategic decision.
The Euro Attractions Show 2016 (EAS), the most important amusement park and attractions conference and tradeshow in Europe, will be held in Barcelona from 18-22 September 2016. Furthermore, there will be special events and educational sessions at PortAventura World. Over 9,000 professionals are expected to attend.
Karen Staley, senior vice-president of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), the event’s organizer, stated at a press conference held last Tuesday that “Holding EAS 2016 in Barcelona has been a strategic decision. Spain is a country with a robust tourism industry and we believe that the amusement park and attractions industry is a great driver of successful tourism. Holding EAS 2016 strengthens this idea.”
Fernando Aldecoa, director general of operations at PortAventura World, which will be hosting a number of special events and education sessions, asserted that “EAS 2016 is a key event for all Spanish amusement parks. It is also an opportunity to get to know this business area, relatively unknown, but no less important. We are convinced that this coming edition will be a resounding success.”
At the press conference, full information was provided about both EAS 2016, which will take place at Fira de Barcelona Gran Via, and Europe’s growing entertainment industry with a yearly turnover of over €10,000 million and more than 50,000 fulltime employees. This varied industry includes amusement parks, water parks, attractions, museums, aquariums, zoos and much more.
According to a recent study conducted by the IAAPA, Europe’s 307 amusement parks receive 150 million visitors a year. These parks are continuously investing in new experiences to entice visitors to return year after year and to attract first-timers.
EAS is expected to host over 450 companies from 60 countries which will be showcasing more than 100 products and services related to the entertainment industry.
Further information about EAS 2016 at: www.IAAPA.org/EAS.
Published
19/06/2016