The global slowdown notwithstanding, the domestic amusement park industry is estimated to grow by 10-12 per cent per annum till 2009-10. Nearly 500 new amusement parks are expected to come up across the country by 2020, according to Rakesh Barbar, chief executive officer, International Recreation Park (IRPPL), the country’s leading amusement parks company and a 50:50 joint venture between Unitech and International Amusement.

Quoting Indian Association Of Amusement Parks & Industries (IAAPI) figures, Barbar told FC Estate the Indian amusement park industry is clocking a volume of about Rs 4,000 crore. The amusement and theme park industry in the country are estimated to be worth Rs 10,000 crore by 2020.

Known for its ‘Appu Ghar’ project, IRPPL is at present concentrating on completing the various zones of ‘Worlds of Wonder’ and positioning it as one of the biggest amusement parks in Asia and as a complete family entertainment centre. The company is also developing Delhi NCR’s only one-stop shop for retail, fine dining, shopping and entertainment. IRPPL has also teamed up with Time Warner's Cartoon Network channel to conceptualise the children’s zone of the park at Noida Entertainment City, Barbar said.

Worlds of Wonder will comprise four zones, namely Road Show, La Fiesta, Kids Zone and a water park based on the Calypso theme. Each zone has its own set of rides designed to suit the taste of a particular age group. At present, Road Show and La Fiesta are fully operational, he added.

“In the present scenario, one of the most lucrative formats is the concept of new age, world-class amusement parks-cum-malls. What we had till a few years ago were low-standard and low-cost amusement parks, but now the trend is more in favour of internationally-styled, world-class parks. And if malls accompany these parks, it also results in impulse buying. While there is an overall impact of the slowdown, integrated leisure destinations such as are least impacted,” Barbar said.

Asked if a broader, seamless integration of residential, retail, entertainment and amusement is also possible in case of large housing complexes and satellite/mini townships, more so with Unitech being one of its co-promoters, Barbar said, “It is absolutely possible in terms of concept. However, in some cases, the residents of the township may like to live in a more secluded and calm place.”