PortAventura World Parks & Resort
Previously known as * Port Aventura (1995-2001)
* Universal Mediterranea (2002–2004)
* PortAventura (2005–2012)
* PortAventura: European Destination Resort (2013–2015)
LocationSalou and Vila-seca, Catalonia, Spain
Coordinates41°05′13″N 1°09′26″E / 41.086839°N 1.157272°E / 41.086839; 1.157272
Opened13 June 2002 (2002-06-13) (resort)[1]
1 May 1995 (1995-05-01) (first park)
OwnerInvestindustrial
KKR
Operated byInvestindustrial
General managerSergio Feder
SloganParks & Resort
Operating seasonSpring through winter
Attendance5.2 million (2019)[2]
Area119 ha[3]
294 acres
Attractions
Total53
Roller coasters9
Water rides5
WebsiteOfficial website

PortAventura World is an entertainment resort in Salou and Vila-seca, Tarragona, on the Costa Daurada in Catalonia, Spain. It was built around the PortAventura Park theme park, which attracts around 3.5 million visitors per year, making it the most visited theme park in Spain and the sixth most visited theme park in Europe.[4] The resort has had a second theme park, Ferrari Land, since 2017 and also includes PortAventura Caribe Aquatic Park, six hotels, a convention center, and an RV park. It is one of the biggest resorts in southern Europe and attracts around five million visitors per year. Reus Airport lies within 15 minutes driving distance and Barcelona Airport within one hour.[5] The train station Salou-Port Aventura is 750m from the resort entrance and is served by line R17 trains to Barcelona and Tarragona.

History

When Port Aventura opened in 1995 in Salou,[6] The Tussauds Group owned 40.0% of the park, while La Caixa had 33.2%, Anheuser-Busch had 19.9%, and FECSA had 6.7%.[7][8][9][10] In 1998, the majority of Tussauds Group's shares in the park were sold to Universal and the park was rebranded as 'Universal's Port Aventura', which made it the first Universal Studios theme park in Europe.[11][12][13]

In 2002, a water park (Costa Caribe) and two hotels (Hotel PortAventura and Hotel El Paso) were constructed, and the resort was further rebranded as 'Universal Mediterranea'.[14][15] In 2004, NBCUniversal (Universal Studios' parent) sold all interest in PortAventura.[16] It is owned and operated by La Caixa Banking Group's investment vehicle Criteria, but as of 2005, the Universal name has been dropped from the branding, and the resort was once again named 'PortAventura' (the space in the name is deliberately left out for trademark reasons). In 2009, the resort hosted 3,310,000 visitors.[17]

In December 2013, private equity firm KKR[18] picked up a 49.9% stake in PortAventura from Investindustrial, which still owned 50.1%. In 2016, the resort was renamed 'PortAventura World Parks & Resort'.[19] The second theme park, Ferrari Land, was inaugurated on April 7, 2017.[20] PortAventura Dream Village, an exclusive vacation for guests with additional needs, opened in 2017.[21]

Annual visits[22][23][3][24][25]
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Visits to the parks 3,703,217 3,700,000 3,819,474 3,940,444 3,896,901 4,715,088 4,962,512
Visits to PortAventura Park 3,439,444 3,494,998 3,499,375 3,528,908 3,607,937 3,589,918
Visits to PortAventura Caribe Aquatic Park 263,773 324,476 313,831 367,993 335,351 326,611
Visits to Ferrari Land – – – – – 713,421 1,045,983
Visits to Cirque du Soleil – – 100,000 127,238 – 58,379 –
International visits 35% 38% 36% 33% 33% 33% 36%
Rooms occupied 323,723 334,409 337,219 376,026 390,200
Participants at Convention Centre 44,461 64,536 81,352 72,461 68,782 73,671
Events at Convention Centre 154 184 226 259 201
Total visits (parks, hotels, convention centre) 4,984,092 4,946,389 5,837,509 6,130,308
Balance sheet figures (thousands of euros)
Non-current assets 913,867 934,196 968,483 997,964 988,362
Current assets 31,939 19,802 27,320 44,740 58,822
Equity and liabilities 945,806 953,998 995,803 1,042,704 1,047,184
Current and non-current liabilities 500,990 492,577 515,062 548,418 543,028
Income statement results (thousands of euros)
Equivalent turnover 181,200 181,800 194,682 191,160 203,055 234,957 230,349

PortAventura Park

Entrance
The Tutuki Splash water ride

The park features five theme areas based on civilizations (Mediterrània, Far West, México, China and Polynesia), and one theme area based on Sesame Street. Mediterrània is the main entrance area of the park.

Main rides
  • Furius Baco, an Intamin Accelerator Coaster with winged seating, which opened in June 2007. It has a top speed of 83.9 mph (135 km/h).
  • Stampida, a dueling wooden roller coaster.
  • Tomahawk, a junior version of Stampida and which runs parallel to it.
  • Silver River Flume, a traditional log flume.
  • Grand Canyon Rapids, a whitewater river rapids ride along the Grand Canyon.
  • Hurakan Condor, an Intamin drop tower ride. This ride is one of the tallest in the world at 330 ft.
  • El Diablo – Tren de la Mina, an Arrow Dynamics mine train roller coaster. The top speed of the coaster is around 60 km/h.
  • Dragon Khan, with 8 inversions this formerly held the record as having more inversions than any other roller coaster. It also held the world record for the tallest vertical loop on any roller-coaster. The ride built by Bolliger & Mabillard was one of the two roller coasters that Port Aventura had when it opened. It consistently ranks among the world's best roller coasters in polls.
  • Shambhala, this B&M hypercoaster beat three European records as it was the fastest (134 km/h) and tallest roller coaster in Europe. It is 76 m tall and had longest drop in Europe at 78 m (2 m underground).
  • Angkor, a large splash battle themed in the Angkor ruins that opened in 2014.
  • Tutuki Splash, a Shoot the Chute themed along an erupting volcano.
  • Tami Tami, a roller coaster for children.
  • Street Mission, an interactive Sesame Street dark ride.

Ferrari Land

Italian village, Ferrari Land

InvestIndustrial and Ferrari signed a deal to build a new area themed to the Italian sports car brand in the PortAventura resort covering 60,000 m2,[26][27] including new rides, restaurants, shops and car racing simulators. Ferrari Land is the resort's second theme park, separate from PortAventura Park. The park was opened on 7 April 2017, after an investment of more than €100 million.[28]

Its entrance is adjacent to PortAventura Park's main entrance. The Mediterranean theme is common to both entrances, as Ferrari Land is inspired by Italy, including recreations of Venice's Piazza San Marco and Rome's Colosseum. The main ride of Ferrari Land is Red Force, a 112 m tall vertical accelerator coaster that surpassed Shambhala as the tallest coaster in Europe and is also the fastest coaster in Europe. Ferrari Land opened a kids area in 2018.

Ferrari Land is the second amusement centre themed to Ferrari in the world, after Ferrari World Abu Dhabi.[29]

Partial list of rides and attractions

Roller coasters

Name Manufacturer Speed Height Length Location Opened
ShambhalaBolliger & Mabillard83 miles per hour (134 km/h)249 feet (76 m)5,410 feet (1,650 m)China2012
Dragon KhanBolliger & Mabillard65 miles per hour (105 km/h)148 feet (45 m)4,165 feet (1,269 m)China1995
Furius BacoIntamin83.9 miles per hour (135.0 km/h)15 feet (4.6 m)2,789 feet (850 m)Mediterrània2007
Junior Red ForceSBF Visa Group28 miles per hour (45 km/h)UnknownUnknownFerrari Land2018
Red ForceIntamin112 miles per hour (180 km/h)367 feet (112 m)2,887 feet (880 m)Ferrari Land2017
StampidaCCI46 miles per hour (74 km/h)84 feet (26 m)3,127 feet (953 m)Far West1997
TomahawkCCI30 miles per hour (48 km/h)44 feet (13 m)1,444 feet (440 m)Far West1997
El Diablo – Tren de la MinaArrow Dynamics37 miles per hour (60 km/h)54 feet (16 m)3,306 feet (1,008 m)México1995
Tami TamiVekoma21.7 miles per hour (34.9 km/h)28 feet (8.5 m)679 feet (207 m)SésamoAventura1998

Flat rides

Name Manufacturer Height Speed Length Location Opened
Kon-tiki WaveHUSS Park Attractions66 feet (20 m)UnknownUnknownPolynesia1995
Serpiente EmplumadaSchwarzkopf9.8 feet (3.0 m)UnknownUnknownMéxico1995
YucatánMack Rides–13 revolutions per minuteUnknownMéxico1995
Hurakan CondorIntamin330 feet (100 m)71.4 miles per hour (114.9 km/h)370 feet (110 m)México2005
Maranello Grand RaceC&S–Unknown1,870 feet (570 m)Ferrari Land2017
Thrill TowersS&S Worldwide180 feet (55 m)UnknownUnknownFerrari Land2017
Street MissionSally Corporation, ETF–UnknownUnknownSésamoAventura2019

Water rides

Name Manufacturer Speed Height Length Location Opened
Tutuki SplashIntamin35 miles per hour (56 km/h)45 feet (14 m)01,438 feet (438 m)Polynesia1995
Silver River FlumeMack Rides35 miles per hour (56 km/h)50 feet (15 m)02,260 feet (690 m)Far West1995
Grand Canyon RapidsIntamin10 miles per hour (16 km/h)–02,800 feet (850 m)Far West1995
CanoesZamperla10 miles per hour (16 km/h)–02,800 feet (850 m)Polynesia1995
AngkorMack Rides10 miles per hour (16 km/h)–02,800 feet (850 m)China2014

Amusement rides using motion pictures

Name Manufacturer Height Length Location Opened
Dino Scape 4DThinkwell Group, Universal Creative6.6 feet (2.0 m)UnknownPolynesia2000
Flying DreamsBrogentUnknownUnknownFerrari Land2017
Racing LegendsSimworxUnknownUnknownFerrari Land2017
Street MissionSally Corp, ETF Ride SystemsUnknownUnknownSésamoAventura2019

PortAventura Caribe Aquatic Park

Costa Caribe Aquatic Park entrance
Costa Caribe Aquatic Park – La Laguna de Woody

PortAventura Caribe Aquatic Park is a water park which is adjacent to PortAventura Park. It has an area of 50,000 m2, which includes 16 attractions and slides, as well as over 8,500 m2 of water-covered surface area. It is themed to the Caribbean, with beaches, palm trees, and Latin and reggae music, and it also includes shops and restaurants.

The park has been closed due to the coronavirus outbreak and currently is remaining closed throughout 2020.

Rides

  • King Khajuna – Europe's tallest free-fall slide of 31 meters and 55-degree descent by ProSlide. Opened in 2013.
  • Ciclón Tropical – MultiBUMP slide by ProSlide opened in 2013.
  • Rapid Race – ProSlide ProRacer opened in 2013.
  • The Mambo and Limbo – Two corkscrew waterslides by ProSlide. Opened in 2002.
  • El Tifón – Two ProSlide body waterslides opened in 2002.
  • El Río Loco – Lazy River opened in 2002.
  • El Torrente – A ProSlide Mammoth river with four-passenger round tubes, opened in 2002.
  • Barracudas – A pair of ProSlide tube chutes with two-passenger inline tubes, opened in 2002.

Kids rides

  • Zona Indoor with Junior Slides – Indoor play area including pool and slides by WhiteWater West. Opened in 2002.
  • La Laguna de Woody – Woody Woodpecker-themed play area by WhiteWater West. Opened in 2002.

Resort hotels

The resort features six themed hotels:

  • PortAventura Hotel PortAventura: Mediterranean theme (4*)
  • PortAventura Hotel Caribe: Caribbean theme (4*)
  • PortAventura Hotel El Paso: Mexican theme (4*)
  • PortAventura Hotel Gold River (including 'The Callaghan's'): Western theme (4*)
  • PortAventura Hotel Colorado Creek: Rustic Western theme (4*)
  • PortAventura Hotel Mansión de Lucy: Victorian-style Western theme (5*)[30]
  • Hotel Ferrari: Ferrari theme (5*) (future)[31]

Seasonal events

FiestAventura

During seasonal events like summer nights, Halloween (September to November) and Christmas (November to January), PortAventura Park opens seasonal walk around rides or shows, including the mazes: [REC], Horror in Penitence, La Selva del Miedo and the nighttime Halloween show Horror en el Lago.

Some events
Summer
  • Dance Revolution – At the Gran Teatro Imperial Theatre
  • PortAventura Parade – A parade with music and choreography, leading up to the start of the FiestAventura show
  • FiestAventura – The fireworks show including water effects and floats
Halloween
  • Halloween Kingdom – At the Gran Teatro Imperial Theatre
  • [REC] Experience – Passage of terror
  • Horror in Penitence – Passage of terror
  • La Selva del Miedo – Passage of terror
  • Halloween Parade – A parade with music and choreography of the most terrifying monsters at the park, leading up to the start of the Horror en el Lago show
  • Horror en el Lago – The fireworks show including water effects and floats
Christmas
  • PortAventura Christmas World – At the Gran Teatro Imperial Theatre
  • Cuento de Navidad – Magnificent artistic and acrobatic display with international ice-skaters
  • Christmas Family Festival – A family area only for Christmas
  • Christmas Parade – A parade with music and choreography full of Christmas lights and carriages, leading up to the start of the La llegada de los Emisarios Reales
  • La llegada de los Emisarios Reales – The Three Kings helpers arrive at the lake with a great multimedia firework show.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Universal Mediterránea destinado a ser el destino familiar más importante de Europa". parquestematicos.org. 13 June 2002. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  2. ↑ Eduard Castaño (8 July 2020). "PortAventura vuelve a abrir hoy" (in Spanish). Diari de Tarragona. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  3. 1 2 "Annual report Corporate responsibility 2012" (PDF). fundacioportaventura.org. 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  4. ↑ Themed Entertainment Association; Economics Research Associates (2013). "Global attractions attendance report" (PDF). AECOM. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. ↑ "How to get to PortAventura". portaventura.co.uk. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  6. ↑ Richard Schweid (2 November 1992). "Europe's Second Theme Park Planned in Spain". Associated Press. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  7. ↑ "Naissance de Port Aventura, gigantesque parc de loisirs près de Barcelone". Libération. 24 April 1995. Retrieved 28 October 2018..
  8. ↑ "Ray Barratt". blooloop. 30 August 2013. Archived from the original on 9 November 2013. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  9. ↑ Josep Maria Cortes, Manel Perez (29 January 1993). "La Generalitat tomará y el 10% del parque de Salou si Busch recupera la mayoría". El País. Retrieved 28 October 2018..
  10. ↑ Salvador Anton Clavé (16 April 2007). The Global Theme Park Industry. CABI. p. 131. ISBN 978-1845932084.
  11. ↑ "Pearson raises pounds 58m on sale of Spanish theme park stake". The Independent. 23 June 1998. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  12. ↑ "Pearson Completes Tussauds Group Disposal". pearson.com. 19 October 1998. Retrieved 18 October 2018..
  13. ↑ "Veremonte y La Caixa se alían en Barcelona World". La Vanguardia. 9 July 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2018. Translation: "Veremonte and La Caixa team up in Barcelona World".
  14. ↑ "Universal Mediterranea near completion". leisureopportunities.co.uk. 26 February 2002. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  15. ↑ "Del Dragon Khan al mayor polo turístico del Mediterráneo". diaridetarragona.com. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  16. ↑ "U sells Port Aventura stake". Variety. 20 June 2004. Retrieved 28 October 2018..
  17. ↑ "Spain: Port Aventura, registered 3, 310, 000 visitors, representing a decrease of 8% over the previous year". blooloop.com. 26 February 2010. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  18. ↑ "KKR picks up 49.9% stake in PortAventura from Investindustrial | AltAssets Private Equity News". Altassets.net. 6 December 2013. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  19. ↑ Joe Kleiman (26 January 2016). "PortAventura Rebrands with New Website in Anticipation of Ferrari Land". inparkmagazine.com. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  20. ↑ "Ferrari Land estará separado de PortAventura y creará 150 empleos". La Vanguardia. 7 May 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  21. ↑ "Fundació PortAventura".
  22. ↑ "Corporate responsibility report '16" (PDF). investindustrial.com. 2017. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  23. ↑ "Corporate responsibility report 2017" (PDF). investindustrial.com. 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  24. ↑ "Annual report 2013 Corporate responsibility" (PDF). fundacioportaventura.org. 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  25. ↑ "Corporate responsibility report 2018" (PDF). Amazon Web Services. 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  26. ↑ "Feu vert pour Ferrari Land qui ouvrira ses portes le 7 avril 2017" (pdf). AWS (in French). 13 July 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  27. ↑ "Les Points à l'ordre du jour: Ferrari Land ouvrira le 7 avril 2017". mostreliablecarbrands.com (in French). 7 July 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  28. ↑ "Points on the agenda: Ferrari Land will open on the 7th of April 2017 | Most Reliable Car Brands".
  29. ↑ Clara Blanchar. "Port Aventura invertirá 100 millones en un nuevo parque dedicado a Ferrari". El País. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
  30. ↑ Michelle Chenery (2 November 2015). "PortAventura – a world class and versatile events option". incentivetravel.co.uk. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  31. ↑ Ashifa Kassam (13 March 2014). "Ferrari theme park to open at PortAventura resort near Barcelona". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
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