Murcia's Paramount Theme Park could open 1 year early

 

According to Murcia's regional government, construction of the Paramount-branded Theme Park in Murcia could begin as early as February 2012. Promoters pledge that works will be fast and may well complete in 2014 - a year ahead of schedule. This will dovetail nicely with the arrival of the high-speed AVE in Murcia.

Murcian officials are convinced that the Paramount-branded Theme Park green light was given largely on the basis of the brand new Murcia International Airport located within 20 minutes of the site at Corvera. Works on the Airport will complete late this year and open to passengers in spring 2012 following final Government approval. Paramount personnel have conducted site visits to witness its swift progress.

Chris Mercer of Murcia-based agent Mercers, comments, "Corvera Airport's initial capacity for three million passengers a year, including many who currently use Alicante, was said to be key to securing the flagship project. Murcia International Airport will also become the first airport in Spain to be crossed by a high-speed rail link (AVE) and the third, after Barcelona and Madrid, to have a rail link at all – further opening up domestic and international traffic to the Theme Park. Before long a European spotlight will fall on this area and our property sales are already rising from those keen to cash-in on lucrative rental opportunities of the future."

The President for Murcia's Flagship Projects Jesus Samper, on behalf of the joint venture scheme, believes that an initial investment of 300 million euros will be enough to complete main infrastructure for the Paramount-branded Theme Park whilst the remaining facilities such as retail outlets and hotels, costing up to 1,000 million euros, can be completed in phases and be part-funded by those private enterprises keen on benefitting from what is set to be the biggest theme park in Europe.

With a definitive masterplan in place for September this year outlining usage of the 108 hectares of land, 37 dedicated to the Park itself, project members will then embark on a roadshow to attract investors in London, New York, Shanghai and the UAE, among others. Investment funds and business groups have already expressed an interest in the project including Russian billionaire and casino operator Oleg Boyko who made a surprise personal visit to Murcia.