A survey of how the pandemic is affecting arcades and FECs in the Asia-Pacific region by InterGame has revealed a patchwork of results.
FECs in India and the Philippines remain closed together with cinemas while other non-essential retail in shopping malls are operating but with restrictions in both countries. These include an age restriction on entry to the malls.
At the same time, we learn, restaurants are being permitted to operate but with 30-50 per cent of their normal capacity. Many are building delivery and online business to cut their losses.
Singapore, on the other hand, that has handled its Covid-19 infection rate well, is permitting its FECs to operate, but under strict capacities.
In Indonesia too, the FECs are now permitted to reopen in some parts, except for the capital, Jakarta and its immediate surroundings, but it is anticipated that this ban will shortly be lifted.
The Vietnamese government has now got its second wave of infections under control and there are encouraging signs reported by FEC operators that their business may recover within the short term.
Sonaal Chopra, group CEO at The Entertainment and Education Group (TEEG), operators notably of the Timezone brand, said: “We have just launched a new venue in Auckland, New Zealand, in July and are currently fitting out large-size venues in both Singapore and Vietnam that should open towards the end of the year.
“We are hearing of constant progress on vaccination development and distribution. That will provide some emotional comfort, especially to people living in the emerging Asian countries, and restore a degree of normality in day-to-day life."
He added: “Even the near-term prospects of recreation formats such as FECs and restaurants remains bright. We are already witnessing that in some markets that have the pandemic under control. The lack of international travel in the short term will propel domestic consumption and tourism and benefit FECs in 2021 and even beyond.”
