Now number two globally in terms of Covid-19 infections, India has some redeeming factors, including that it is five times the size of the number one infection country, the US, in terms of population and that the death rate in India is one of the world’s lowest.
Source: Ambience Mall, Gurgaon
Nevertheless, although the entertainment and amusement industry is low in priority in India, it is no different from many other pandemic-affected destinations in that its venues remain closed. The country has about 500 indoor amusement centres are another 200 outdoor locations including parks.
They are all closed. The two trade associations looking after the interests of these venues, the Shopping Centres Association of India (SCAI) and the Indian Association of Amusement Parks and Industries (IAAPI) reckon that indoor FECs has incurred a loss of Rs11bn (€126m) through the enforced lockdown. It is anticipated that this will almost double by the end of this year if the facilities continue to be closed.
The country’s FECs and parks have been closed for five months and frantic attempts to meet with government officials and formulate safe opening conditions have been constant. Both the SCAI and IAAPI have already issued guidelines to their members for post-Covid reopening.
Around 80 per cent of the Indian FECs use the Semnox Parafait management system and the company’s CEO, Kiran Karanki, told InterGame from the company’s Mangalore offices that the company understood from its customers that although they have missed the peak season period of April-June this year, they have used the time to improve their operations.
Many of them, he said, had employed fresh technology to prepare for a change in normality to follow once the lockdown is lifted. “What they are more worried about is the potential change in consumer thought processes and behaviour. How open will they be to coming back to FECs and how soon will they adjust to the new normal?" he said.
“Facilities are now taking all safety measures in their respective venues to gain confidence from the government and from their customers to come back to them in the coming days. The amusement centres in India are hoping that they will get the government nod to reopen soon.”
