THE first Ferrari theme park in Europe will come up in 2016 as part of the existing Port Aventura complex near Spanish seaside resort Salou, some 100km south of Barcelona.
The 100 million euro (US$139 million) project will include a Ferrari Land theme park; the first and five-star Ferrari-themed hotel with 250 rooms; restaurants, shops and extensive simulator areas for race cars.
TTG Asia e-Daily understands that the theme park will be operated on a licence agreement and targeted at “catering for all ages” with rides including the “highest and fastest vertical accelerator in Europe”. Another attraction will be a roller coaster with cars that are modelled on the world famous marque.
Ferrari Land is expected to be an added draw for a complex that already receives around four million visitors a year, nearly half of them foreigners.
Andrea Perrone, administrator for Ferrari Brand, said that “after the success of Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi we have received many requests to build new leisure parks”.
Port Aventura had been selected because it provided an “opportunity to bring the success of Ferrari to Spain, where we have many fans”, she explained.
Sergio Feder, chief executive at Port Aventura, said it had been looking for “a long-term plan supported by a well-known international brand” to help boost annual visitor numbers to five million.
“Ferrari was an obvious choice, not only for the brand value it represents but also for its consolidated experience with the Ferrari World Abu Dhabi theme park,” he added.
