Paramount Theme Park In Murcia - What You Need To Know

Published on 20/09/2010 14:28:05 in Buying Process

Over the past few years we’ve heard a lot of talk of Disney opening up a theme park in the Manilva area on the Costa del Sol. In fact, many estate agents sold properties under the premise that Disney were coming and that it would mean that property prices would increase due to the resulting tourism in the area.

Must of us knew all along that this wasn’t really ever going to happen. Disney were not about to put their Paris theme park out of business, even though originally they had planned to build the “Euro Disney” in Spain; the actual location being what is today the Selwo adventure park. The lack of infrastructure in the area is allegedly what put Disney off and chose, perhaps mistakenly, Paris instead.

Now more recently we’ve heard a lot of talk about Paramount Studios opening up a theme park in the Murcia area of Spain. Although originally many people assumed this was another “Disney in Manilva” moment, the fact of the matter is that the Paramount theme park in Murcia IS going ahead, as has recently been confirmed by Paramount Pictures Spain.

Paramount in Spain For once some good, positive news!

The Facts

Paramount Studios themselves will NOT be investing in the project. Instead the Murcia Regional Government along with what appears to be a group of investors under the name of Santa Monica Financial Services SA, will fund the project under licence from “Paramount Licensing”.

It is therefore more of a Paramount-branded theme park than a Paramount theme park in it’s own right.

However, this sort of set up appears to be quite a common way of setting up these types of facilities, hence the “Paramount Licensing” division of the company.

The Location

Murcia covers a large area and at the moment no details have been given for the exact location of the theme park, but expect it to be quite far from most residential areas!

Timing

Let’s not get too excited yet as this is still at a very early stage so going by the usual timescales for large projects we’re probably look at a minimum of 2 - 3 years before this gets completed, possibly longer.

The Competition

There are already several theme parks in Spain, with two of the major ones being Portaventura in Salou in the North of Spain and Warner Bros World just outside of Madrid.

Paramount ride I have never been to Portaventura but I hear it is very good but we went to Warner Bros World in Madrid last year and weren’t overly impressed. It wasn’t particularly busy and everything looked a little tatty. The characters didn’t appear where they were set to appear at the published times and compared to Disney in Paris....well it really doesn’t compare.

Paramount, like Disney and Warner Bros, has the name and the famous characters associated with the brand to ensure it gets a lot of interest, so in a way it is guaranteed to do well, especially in the early days I'm sure.

Accommodation

Most of these large-style theme parks tend to have their own on-site hotels, albeit very expensive ones. When we went to Disneyland Paris last year we stayed in one of their hotels which was great. We saw the characters in the morning, we walked to and from the park and got to stay an extra hour after the park closed because we were staying in a resort hotel. All great benefits for staying in one of their hotels.

Both Disney in Paris and Warner Bros World in Madrid are quite far from anything else. Although you can get a train to either of them, and many people do as they only go for a day, it is much better when you have kids if you just stay in the resort itself.

What Does This Mean For Those Renting Out Properties in Murcia?

Apart from the huge number of jobs that the park will create, property owners in the area are certainly set to benefit too.

Murcia already enjoys a considerable amount of tourism and the Paramount theme park is sure to become a “must go to” destination for visitors to the area. In fact, whilst foreign tourists go to Murcia to soak up the sun, they’ll soon have the option to visit the park whilst they are there.

This is going to be a huge selling point for those marketing their properties for rental in the area. No longer is it just about sun, sea, sand and sangria, soon there will be the option of days out at a top theme park in Spain. For those of us with kids, it really is a great selling point.

In terms of property values in the area, I can’t see this is going to have much of an impact in the short term until people can demonstrate that the park is bringing in huge amounts of people looking to rent apartments instead of staying at the resort.

Maybe by the time the park is ready property prices may have at least started to creep up but I can’t see the park itself having that great of an effect. There are just still too many properties around.

The Spanish Market

An important point to understand is the Spanish culture towards travelling. Although it is changing, the Spanish are typically very patriotic and they love their country so much that most of them see little point in leaving it for a holiday. In fact, most of our Spanish friends rarely leave the area!

I truly believe that the Paramount theme park is really going to be more for the Spanish than the foreign tourists. Sometimes we underestimate how much the Spanish holiday within Spain, especially entire families going to the coasts from the big inland cities. They tend to have money and they spend it during the summer enjoying the beaches.

If you plan on attracting Paramount tourism for your apartment then you need to consider marketing it to Spaniards.

What You Should Do Now As A Property Owner In Murcia

So you own a property in Murcia that you rent out for holidays and you’re hoping in a few years time you’ll be able to capture some of the Paramount tourism. There are a few things you can start doing now to position yourself accordingly in the market. Remember that as this gathers momentum, competition will increase so you have to begin now.

Firstly, as I talk about in my Top 10 Strategies To Boost Your Rental Enquiries ebook, you should have your own website to market your own rental property.

Secondly, you need to begin adding information about the Paramount theme park to it. Create a “Paramount Theme Park Spain” section and add news and information as you get it. The idea is to get this information out there and for Google to find it. There are already many people searching for “Paramount Spain” and “Paramount Murcia”.

You need to be there because eventually people will start searching for “Holiday rentals paramount murcia” and if you want to be found on Google for this, then you need to begin now as it's only going to get tougher.

I’ll leave it with you to come up with some other ideas!

All in all, this is some great news for the Murcia area but for now we just need to wait and see what further details are released regarding location and timing.

When it opens up I will certainly be taking my kids there and I may just be looking for somewhere to rent at the same time!

What are your thoughts on the Paramount Theme Park? Please leave your comments below. I look forward to reading them.

Written by: Justin Aldridge (EOS)

About the author:

Justin has been running Eye on Spain for over 5 years and recently with his partner Susan launched their popular moving to Spain video guide, Spain Uncut.

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Comments:

GG1 says:
This can only be good news - lets not close down out thinking re potential markets at this point though chaps !! The new airport , the walking, the beaches, the climate generally, the golf . My goodness it's fantastic and outrageously forward thinking of the Government , especially in such difficult times. Lets smile , be happy and get optimistic - its a fabulous area - otherwise why would we all have chosen to have homes there ? tell your friends and lets share this optimisim around !! GG1
20/09/2010 16:32:00

Mrs W says:
fab news ! i own property at La Torre Golf Resort in Murcia and easily get rentals via friends and family mostly and referals but to also have a paramount theme park is just brill !
20/09/2010 16:51:00

Patricia says:
Well it will not effect us as we are half an hour away from Murcia and we do not let out except to family and friends. But could mean we get a lot more family wanting to take their children to the park so we might become more popular.

But it is good for the area and hopefully give it a boost.
20/09/2010 17:09:00

Agp says:
At last some good news on the spanish property market.I have recently been told it will be sited adjacent to Polaris condado resort.
20/09/2010 17:28:00

Lloyd Jones says:
There are several locations bidding for this project. High on the betting list is the Polaris World site near Alahama, although Lorca, Murcia, and Cartagena are all staking their claim. The criterior for success appears to be connections, hotels, roads, airports, AVE, etc. Alahama ticks nearly all the boxes at the moment, and will be completed by Corvera Airport in the near future.
Confidentiality agreements are in place about the eventual location so it can only be speculation at the moment.
20/09/2010 18:55:00

madlop says:
If it happens then that will be brilliant - we have a property on the Almeria/Murcia border and at the moment we are struggling with uk/Murcia flights so if a prroject like this really takes off then we will get increased flights (perhaps the 'new' airport will be completed!)
Heres hoping1
Jean
20/09/2010 19:09:00

John Scott says:
This is indeed good news, however seeing is believing, I can remember being told, Disney was definitely building in Santa Pola, way back in the late eighties, you can't believe the amount of properties that were sold back then on the strength of that little non event. We all need some good news, so lets hope it goes ahead.
21/09/2010 10:44:00

Darren says:
"Confidentiality agreements are in place about the eventual location so it can only be speculation at the moment." You certainly have alot of inside info on everything...did you have to sign one?

21/09/2010 17:17:00

Steve B says:
I think we should all be a little cautious rather than excited.
21/09/2010 18:33:00

marty f says:
i have a penthouse appartment on la torre golf resort murcia if anyone wants to buy it the bidding starts at 200,000 euros
dont hang about as it wont sit about for too long hehehehehe
i am in the money laughing all the way to the bank. it being caja murcia off course.
21/09/2010 21:07:00

lorraine says:
This is really great news, as the economic climate which has affected so many people, all over the world, so this has got to be a good thing, also with Corvera Airport opening, hopefully this is a turn of the times, and thing s can only get better.
Just keep an eye on website for posted news on Paramount Park
02/10/2010 23:19:00

Alan Meyern says:
I certainly see the news of a potential Paramount licenced theme park in south east Murcia as having much credibility at this time! When the new airport at Corvera was eventually started and kilometre after kilometre of new motorways in the region appeared coupled with the news of the TVE extension, it begged the question.... ''what do these people know that I don't''? As a property owner here I rejoice in every bit of good news as this is a fantastic region of Spain and fully deserving of such a tremendous 'shot in the arm'!
01/10/2010 22:55:00

anchoa says:
I would think the golf resorts if close to the theme park would do well for renters,something for all the family to enjoy, Also car rental will also do well.
Those golf resorts should now be thinking ahead, maybe putting on bus trips daily to the Theme park & include a day ticket, with a round of golf
09/10/2010 23:14:00

pat burns says:
i think you are all getting a bit carried away,dont you think?
02/11/2010 21:58:00

Tom says:
Yes I live in the area where they said a Disney was being built and it's a dump lol. Never gonna happen thank god I only rent and did not buy!
12/11/2010 20:02:00

Jane says:
Forever optimistic We really hope this does get the go ahead. It will be brilliant for all the renters plus put Murcia on the tourist map. Keeping everything crossed.
14/11/2010 23:11:00

Clara says:
We have an apartment on La Isla del Condado, set in the Polaris resort. In the recent AGM there was no mention of the land being sold to Paramount, althoughwe are still hoping
04/12/2010 01:24:00

liz says:
i think this is great news, we realy hope it gose ahead, afterall t he weather is great, an ideal place to have a theme park, as long as it is done properly and with taste, i will take my grandchildern which i would not to france, and could not to america.
04/01/2011 22:59:00

Janina says:
Hi, we also have an apartment on la isla del condado. Hoping to hear some good news soon as it would be great to have the theme park across the road.
08/01/2011 23:31:00

Miquel says:
Don’t get your hopes up because you will only be disappointed. A Paramount theme park in Murcia is NEVER going to happen.
24/01/2011 12:25:00

Brian says:
I think this would be great for the area and surrounding towns. I live near Punta Prima and think this can only add to another wonderfull holiday experience that I have every year. Fingers crossed that it comes about, but untill they break soil I will hold my reservations.
31/01/2011 17:45:00

andrew says:
well it appears that the project goes ahead, for the lands that are already pre-license and so as discussed later this month will be the license, but as comentais just as Disney, we are at 4 months after the elections Do not you think that this may be an electoral maneuver from here to 4 months this all forgotten?.

A greeting.
09/02/2011 04:40:00

Allan says:
Thinking of buying in polaris resort in Murcia any comments or advise
31/05/2011 21:34:00

Neil says:
Sounds like this is being pushed forward. Apparently a wealthy Russian Businessman was in the area recently.
Lets hope it goes ahead, as the area certainly needs a boost.
13/07/2011 12:19:00

Myra says:
I think it will be great for everybody in the area and for those who have property within 1 hours drive of the theme park which I believe is expected to be completed by Easter 2015. I know my nieces and other family members will definitely visit when they stay in my apartment in Los Dolses on the Orihuela Costa.
17/11/2011 12:12:00

Brendan says:
Reply to Allan re Polaris
I have a Villa Sebina in La Torre fully furnished and well located
you can have it for €125,000
Reply with details of how I can contact you
29/11/2011 23:32:00

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