Box-office admissions in central Europe could rise by 25% over the next five years with Czech Republic seeing the strongest growth, according to Dodona Research.

In the new report Cinemagoing Central Europe, the industry analyst firm reveals that increasing investments in new cinemas throughout the region coupled with strong local film industries will help boost cinema attendance. Forecasts predict that the number of cinema screens across central Europe is set to cross 3,000 by 2011 - a net increase of 11% from 2006.

New cinema construction across the region is expected to surge due to the anticipated closure of various traditional cinemas. Poland - the largest market in the region - is set to see the most growth in new multiplexes. The country now has over 400 multiplex screens since the instalment of its first multiplex in 1998. Smaller markets such as Croatia and Romania are also starting to see increased investment in multiplexes.

Admissions in Czech Republic are predicted to increase by more than 50% in the next five years. The country already boasts some of the strongest cinema attendance rates in Central Europe but anticipated admissions growth will take admissions per person ratios to a rate of 1.8.

After the region experienced a slump in admissions in 2005, analysis found that most markets were able to pull through and recover in 2006.

'Our analysis revealed that Slovakia posted the strongest results in 2006 with a 53% rise in admissions from the previously year,' said the report's author, Alisdair Richie. 'Despite its still old-fashioned infrastructure, admissions reached a record 3.4 million and Dodona expects them to rise by a further 21% by 2011.'

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