The Saudi Arabian trade show, SEA, has a new partner – the MENALAC trade association, covering the entire region.
SEA, short for Saudi Entertainment and Amusement expo, has forged the new relationship with the Middle East and North Africa Leisure Attractions Council, for a three-year period as "Official Knowledge Partner".
SEA is run by the Dubai-based DMG Events, and the 2021 edition of the show should be held from June 1-3 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre. Around 200 exhibitors from 25 countries are expected to take part in the event.
During the show, MENALAC will host a one-day conference, focussing on important issues and developments across the MENA leisure, entertainment and amusement industry. MENALAC has also secured an extension of an "early bird" 10 per cent discount for all of its members who have not yet registered to exhibit at the show.
The expo has established itself quickly as the largest platform for international and local suppliers with 5,000 key buyers playing an integral role in Saudi Arabia’s US$64bn emerging leisure market.
Rosa Tahmaseb, secretary general of MENALAC, said: “The partnership will help the region’s leisure, entertainment and amusement operators. The SEA expo will display the latest technologies and innovative products for the leisure industry form which all stakeholders will benefit.
“Our partnership will help MENALAC members to actively engage with buyers and sellers and benefit from the phenomenal growth that we expect to see in Saudi Arabia in the next few years.”
Saudi expects tourism to significantly contribute to the kingdom’s gross domestic product as the most growing non-oil economic sector. The tourism revenues increased from $51bn in 2017 to $56bn in 2018, says the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage.
Huge investment in mega tourism projects of about $810bn is expected to transform Saudi Arabia into one of the largest leisure tourism industries in the world between now and 2030, according to MENALAC research. With hundreds of entertainment centres, cinemas and theme parks already under construction, the demand for suppliers and manufacturers to cater for this demand is at an all-time high.
Sarkis Kahwajian, event director for SEA, said: “This partnership with MENALAC is important because it will bring major players in the leisure industry to Riyadh where we look forward to putting up a successful event and offering great knowledge sharing and networking at the conferences.
“Saudi Arabia’s leisure tourism sector, especially entertainment and amusement, is set for unprecedented expansion as the Kingdom diversifies its economy to allow greater leisure traffic. Massive mixed-use projects that are currently in the design and early construction phases, will change the economic landscape of the country, which is set to take the centre stage in the region’s tourism industry.”
