Monday, December 2, 2024

ISSUE 62 EDITORIAL: Tourists and culture from India begin to have an impact

by Joe Kleiman, InPark News Editor

[dropcap color=”#888″ type=”square”]A[/dropcap]ccording to India’s National Council for Economic Research, that country’s middle class is expected to double over the next decade to 547 million individuals. As with China, a dramatic increase in the middle class will organically lead to growth in the attractions sector. We’re seeing that already with the expansion of the waterpark industry in India and with recent announcements by the UK’s Merlin Entertainments, India’s Adlabs, and China’s Dalian-Wanda Group to build new attractions, large scale theme parks, and resorts within India.

joeThe effect of the Indian middle class can be seen on global tourism as well, particularly in countries like Singapore and the UAE with large expatriate communities. In both these countries, visitation from the Indian subcontinent has consistently ranked within the top five of foreign markets. As a result, destinations like Resorts World Sentosa and Ferrari World Abu Dhabi have begun catering to the Indian tourist, by among other things adding restaurants specializing in Indian cuisine. Ferrari World also recently celebrated Duwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, with T.P. Seetharam, India’s Ambassador to the UAE, participating in the ceremony (above photo).

In October, India’s great cinematic art form, Bollywood, will be given its own blockbuster theme park. This new park will be located in Dubai, where it will appeal not only to Dubai’s diverse local and tourist population, but also the more than 1 million Indians per year who visit the UAE. And the growing Indian middle class will continue to make its mark on the global attractions landscape.

Joe Kleiman
Joe Kleimanhttps://themesrenewed.home.blog/
Raised in San Diego on theme parks, zoos, and IMAX films, InPark's Senior Correspondent Joe Kleiman would expand his childhood loves into two decades as a projectionist and theater director within the giant screen industry. In addition to his work in commercial and museum operations, Joe has volunteered his time to animal husbandry at leading facilities in California and Texas and has played a leading management role for a number of performing arts companies. Joe previously served as News Editor and has remained a contributing author to InPark Magazine since 2011. HIs writing has also appeared in Sound & Communications, LF Examiner, Jim Hill Media, The Planetarian, Behind the Thrills, and MiceChat His blog, "Themes, Schemes and Dreams", takes an unconventional look at the attractions industry. Follow on Instagram at @JalekAvant Joe lives in Sacramento, California with his wife, dog, and a ghost.

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