The entertainment industry in the Middle East and North Africa expected to grow $ 404 million in 2020 before the pandemic
Dubai’s Skyline (Picture: Forbes)
The Middle East and North Africa together were one of the fastest growing markets, until the outbreak of the crisis due to COVID-19. In the entertainment sector, the growing offer of theme parks, water parks and indoor leisure centers grew by 33.7% in 2019, which meant $ 302 million; a number, expected to hit $ 404 million in 2020, and $ 609 million by 2023.
The prestigious international consulting firm Wilkofsky Gruen Associates, specialized in entertainment, carried out a study on the sector which revealed that before the pandemic, the growth of the region had been 18 %, despite the fact that the accumulated losses from the complete temporary closure have significantly affected the possibilities of continuing this growth rate.
Likewise, the report highlights that according to the World Travel and Tourism Council the expenditure of international visitors in the Middle East is estimated at $ 102 billion in 2019, of which 79% was in the entertainment sector.
