Could Murcia On The Costa Calida Be The Site For New Disneyland?

For those who have already done Disneyland Paris to death, news that feasibility studies are to take place into the construction of what would become Spain’s biggest theme park and a rival to the French resort, will undoubtedly be well-received.

Pedro Cruz, Spain’s Minister of Culture, and Ramon Luis Valcarcel, president of the Murcia region in south eastern Spain, have recently returned from discussions in Dubai with executives from Paramount Pictures and Ruwaad Holdings, which could lead to Murcia being chosen as the site for a 2.5km2 theme park complex which would create 20,000 new jobs and could draw in millions of foreign and Spanish visitors.

Paramount is said to be seeking a site in Spain specifically, and Murcia on the Costa Calida, because of its ideal climate, seems to be top of the list of locations under consideration. Being ideal in terms of access to the new Corvera Airport, as well as being located in close proximity to the newly-completed motorway links and the high speed railway lines which are currently under construction, could certainly give Murcia the edge over other possible sites.

As well as offering theme park facilities which would put it on a par with Disneyland Paris, the park would also incorporate film studios which would act as the centre for Paramount’s filming in Europe.

Initial project assessments are looking set to be completed by the end of March, with full viability studies due to be finished by the end of April. The Minister of Culture has suggested that the project could require investment of some 1,800 million euros, but if it is proven to be economically viable, the spin-off for other areas of Spanish tourism, as well as for the Spanish property market,could well make the investment worthwhile.

Image courtesy of Untipografico on Flickr