Amusement park operator Imagicaa is experiencing a significant uptick in bookings and footfalls following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to prioritise domestic travel over foreign holidays. According to reports from Moneycontrol, managing director Jai Malpani confirmed that the company has seen a week-on-week spike in business since the announcement. "I cannot tell you right now that there is a direct correlation where X plus Y equals this but we have definitely seen a week-on-week bump since the announcement," Malpani stated. The growth comes as domestic tourism booms due to higher international travel costs and the Iran war, with fewer outbound trips potentially driving more spending on local experiences.
Beyond its core amusement business, Imagicaa is significantly expanding its devotional park format through its Sai Teerth park in Shirdi. As reported by Moneycontrol, the company is targeting multiple spiritual destinations including Ayodhya, Varanasi and Shirdi, which are seeing surging visitor numbers. The devotional park combines devotion, storytelling, entertainment and technology, including immersive attractions and 5D experiences. Malpani expressed strong confidence in the sector, stating the company is "very positive on this sector" and is "talking to multiple state governments where we can fit in this model." The company expects to replicate the devotional park model in three to five locations in the near term, targeting cities with strong religious tourism and spending potential.
Recently, Imagicaa partnered with Ketto and Ray of Joy to organise a day-long recreational experience for children from underserved communities and their caregivers. As reported by Moneycontrol, Dhimant Bakshi, CEO and CMO of Imagicaa, emphasized that "For many of these children, this was more than just a day at a park—it was a chance to simply be carefree, to laugh, explore, and create happy memories." The collaboration aimed to extend access to environments that enable children to engage, explore, and experience moments of joy. This initiative builds on Imagicaa's foundation of enabling access to critical services such as healthcare, education, and nutrition.
Despite challenges, Imagicaa continues its aggressive expansion strategy. According to Moneycontrol reports, the company operates 10 amusement and water parks in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, with a strategy to add one park annually. The company recently added Shanku's Water Park in Gujarat and has signed an 11-acre project on the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad under a public-private partnership model. Beyond outdoor parks, Imagicaa is entering the indoor entertainment space through Hello Park, a digitally immersive children's entertainment concept focused on ages three to 13, with the first centre expected to open in Hyderabad before Diwali.
