Costa Calida - Murcia

Paramount Murcia Part 2

2011-12-30T08:37:00.000-08:00

Paramount Costa Calida

2011-12-30T08:36:00.000-08:00

Murcia Region - Wild Flowers & Plants

2011-07-08T09:46:00.000-07:00

COSTA CALIDA BEST DAYS OF MY LIFE

2011-07-07T13:10:00.000-07:00

2011-03-28T04:00:00.000-07:00

The New Murcia - Costa Cálida International Airport

The International Corvera Airport at Costa Cálida is ahead of the revised schedule and they now hope to open it in the spring of 2011.They are working on it 24/7.

The high speed rail link from Madrid to Cartagena is also progressing at a pace and will stop at Corvera airport. Corvera airport will then be the only airport in Spain to be connected to a high speed rail link imho.

The Murcia government is being very proactive in its help. Chanel 7 is the local Murcia TV channel and keeps you up to date with progress reports and helps you with your Spanish at the same time!

By the end of the year Murcia expect to be opening the new airport CORVERA to encourage more tourists to visit the region. All the new roads were reported to be ahead of schedule.

The Paramount Theme Park Murcia, conceptual project unveiled

2011-03-28T02:50:00.000-07:00

The Paramount Theme Park Murcia, conceptual project unveiled

Paramount Theme park Murcia

Today President Valcárcel presented the Master Plan for the projected Paramount Alhama theme park to an expectant assembly of interested businessmen, invited dignitaries and the media.
The Vice President of Paramount Licensing, Michael Bartok and his development team were accompanied by the head of Marta Consulting, Ghassan Aridi and his legal team, along with Jesús Samper and the consultants of Proyectos Emblemáticos Murcianos, who witnessed the formal signing of the licensing agreement today between the Hollywood multinational and the Murcian based business which will bring this plan to fruition.
Although the presentation today held very little in the way of surprises, it reinforced the commitment of all parties to making the concept of this themed leisure park become a viable reality, moving the project from a conceptual to a physical phase in which investment can now be sought.
It also gave Proyectos a creditable platform from which to seek international investment, as although Spanish businesses have expressed a participative interest, the bulk of the capital is likely to come from overseas sources, the most likely being Middle Eastern or Far Eastern businesses, the Region already having good trade relations with important investors who own businesses here, the Sabic plant ( formerly GEC) a Saudi financed example of this co-operation.
Whilst the conceptual design of the park will excite the interest of those working within the tourism promotional industry, it is the business end of the project which requires the most careful analysis, although it is reassuring to note that careful consideration has been given to using the infrastructural facilities of the park to incorporate money making opportunities which will help the investors recoup their money within a realistic timescale, and recognize the seasonal fluctuations which will affect all year round profitability.
To this end, the park will incorporate an extensive zone described by Michael Bartok as a "Lifestyle center" which includes two five star, three 4 star and other hotel accommodation, serving all market budgets. This will be linked to a commercial center, with themed shops, restaurants, bars and discos, and a SALA DE REUNIONES, a meeting facility with 3000 places.
Linked to business and conference facilities this will render the park probably the most exciting and attractive conference venue in Spain, offering the opportunity to tap into the lucrative conferencing markets so sought after due to their high revenue potential, although very few will have any enticements to compete with the attractions of the accompanying theme park facilities. This is an intensely practical opportunity to attract out of season revenue, give hotel occupancy and maintain visitor fluidity.
To complement this, a 15,000 seat capacity open air auditorium and exhibition spaces will allow for cultural events and festivals to also support the hotel structure, and provide venues for more expansive leisure events and festivals, all supported by the opportunity to tie the packages in with the theme park attraction.
Samper originally spoke of a figure ranging between 700 and 800 million, which does seem on the low side for a project of this scale, although this was revised to around a billion euros in his presentation today.
In discussion with journalists afterwards he stated that 700-800 million would open the park, but a billion would see it completed, but in international investment terms, these figures should be of little concern to the right investor, and it would seem optimistic to expect much change out of a billion, given all those little extra revenue earning ideas which will probably only manifest once construction is actually underway. 10% contingency would take us to 900,000, so let´s just be realistic, it´s not a lot of money to the right international investor, after all, there´s a yacht sitting in a Cartagena boatyard right now for maintenance which cost Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko 300 million dollars to build, and he has a personal fortune of over 4 billion dollars.
The money is out there, the only factor is if the investor thinks this park can give a better return than buying electric companies or shares in oil derivatives manufacturers.
Paramount are being realistic in imposing a timescale clause on this licensing agreement to ensure that the bureaucratic processes are speeded through and that the investor has a realistic chance of recouping their investment as quickly as possible. Samper said today that he anticipated the park would start to recoup revenue by its second year, which does seem an optimistic timescale, as does the projection of one euro generating three, but at least the visitor level projections have been revised to more achievable levels of 2.5 million visitors and 4.5-5 million by the fifth year, a better estimate than the 6 million which raised a few eyebrows when quoted in the regional press recently.

Having dealt with the investment aspect, Paramount Licensing Executive Michael Bartok and his design team presented the conceptual plan, which pretty much followed the lines we had already been given to expect, although did not incorporate an aquatic park. We had a fascinating talk to the designer afterwards, but will share the contents of that conversation in a separate piece as there was a lot of detail about the concept of the park discussed.
The overall plan shown divided the Lifestyle center from the park area, each with a separate entrance, although the map seemed to indicate parking was not in the area dedicated to the park, but seemed to have provision for access from the other side of the carriageway, land which was not in the original land option agreement. The entrance would be through a multicultural zone of world travel, incorporating elements of Spanish and international cultures, with each themed zone clearly defined.

In a nutshell, this park promises a "world of emotion, " in which the visitor is invited to participate, a truly interactive new generation concept.
The park will be divided into zones which relate to the great films within the Paramount portfolio. Bartok reminded us that the Paramount brand is one of the top 10 recognizable brands in the world, and that Spain is one of the most important distribution markets for the Paramount Pictures products.
With some of the biggest grossing films ever in their portfolio, they have selected easily identifiable film themes around which to immerse the visitor, enabling him to be part of that timeless car chase in the Italian job, beamed up with Scotty into a fight with extra-terrestrial beings to take the Enterprise, thrown around in an eddy of danger on that Congo river, or slaying dragons alongside Beowulf as the visitor becomes part of the legend.
This is about fantasy, involvement, imagination and interaction and we´re promised the most innovative inter-dimensional experience on offer anywhere in the world, utilizing the most advanced simulation techniques available.
This , Michael Bartok told us, is the first immersive park of its kind and it´s going to be built here.

The presentation was closed by President Valcárcel, who said that this presentation and completion of contracts represented the transition from a viable project to a credible project.
His opinion was that in times of economic crisis there were only 2 options facing an administration, to sit and wail, or do something about the situation, and the latter was the path selected by the regional government.
Investment into infrastructure, allied with the natural resources offered by the region, such as the 300 days of sun, made Murcia the perfect location for this project.
The region knew they would have to work hard to bring this to fruition, but that they were prepared to do so, and fully understood that nothing is given for nothing, emphasizing that the project is credible and viable and although the road would be hard, the goal was achievable and would create sustainable employment.

So now it´s down to the search for investment. We have the right location, well connected, with all the right potential. We have the license and a viable project, and we have a product to sell with a credible concept, an established brand and a creative and practical support team who understand how to turn leisure into a money making machine.
And we have a projected timescale with a tight deadline which would indicate that the hunters may have already identified potential targets grazing on the banks of their Congo.
Here´s to a steady hand and a good aim!

Photos and Article provided by www.simplynetworking.es
To Read the full story todate use this link http://www.simplynetworking.es/news.php?sub=187&id=31

2011-03-28T02:32:00.000-07:00

Murcia Costa Cálida Climate Ideal for Paramount Theme Park Location

Whilst the UK froze with temperatures plummeting to minus -22 in some regions, Spain’s ‘garden of Europe’, the region of Murcia and Costa Cálida saw temperatures rise to 25c and higher. In direct sunlight the mercury hit 33c (90c) in sheltered areas.

Proof, if any was needed, that the decision to locate the new Paramount Theme Park in Murcia was no accident.

When Paris was chosen for the Euro Disney project, eyebrows were raised in certain quarters of the leisure and travel industry. The French climate is varied, with the Cote d’ Azure, (French Riviera) on the Mediterranean being the most appropriate place climatically. However, with most things French, politics and financial inducements saw the Euro Disney resort awarded to the often wet and foggy city of Paris.

There were no mistakes made with the recent announcement that Costa Cálida (English: Warm Coast) is the ideal place to build Spain’s latest mega tourist attraction. The climate in the region of Murcia was very much seen as key to the future success of this multi million Euro venture. With over 320 days of sunshine per year, a new international airport and the recent boom in cruise liners arriving in Cartagena, there really wasn’t any doubt.

During the first few weeks of December, as the temperatures in Murcia were closer to Caribbean averages than the Med, beaches around the Costa Cálida filled with sun-seekers looking to take advantage of the bank holiday week and scorching temperatures.

Inicio - Estación Náutica Mar Menor

2011-03-17T09:05:00.000-07:00

Inicio - Estación Náutica Mar Menor

Scuba Diving in South East Spain, the Province of Murcia

2011-03-13T10:36:00.000-07:00

Scuba Diving in South East Spain, the Province of Murcia

Costa Calida Colours

2011-03-09T10:19:00.000-08:00

Cocinar para los amigos

2011-03-09T10:06:00.000-08:00

Cocinar para los amigos

Ryanair has announced four new routes from Alicante

2011-03-08T00:52:00.000-08:00

Ryanair has announced four new routes from Alicante

Ryanair has announced that it will be operating four new routes from El Altet airport in Alicante starting in the summer. The new routes from Alicante will be to Bristol (UK), Derry and Knock (Ireland) and Breslavia (Poland). The Irish lowcost airline also announced the incorporation of a new plane in its base in the airport which will continue with a total of three Boeing 737-800NG.

The flights to Bristol will operate on a daily basis and there will be two flights to Derry Knock and Breslavia every week.

Luis Fernández-Mellado, who is in charge of Marketing and Sales for Ryanair in Spain said that figures for passengers travelling to and from El Altet airport in Alicante had increased considerably thanks to Ryanair. With this new announcement Ryanair will operate a total of 32 routes from Alicante. He said that the new routes together with current routes to London Gatwick, Palma de Mallorca and Madrid show the commitment that Ryanair has to El Altet airport and mean that it will carry around 200,000 passengers to and from Alicante annually.

According to Fernández-Mellado, Ryanair intends to improve passenger figures for 2008 and continue increasing its routes to Alicante offering the lowest fares. He also said that the addition of another aircraft to the company’s base in Alicante would mean that the number of its permanent staff in Alicante would go up.
Fernández-Mellado said that Ryanair’s commitment to Alicante was very positive for the whole region and would help promote it as a top tourist destination.

Ryanair has decided to celebrate the opening of new routes by offering 1 million tickets for just 1 euro each. Tickets can be reserved until midnight on 19th January 2009 and are for travel between 27th January and 12th March. Tickets cannot be bought for travel between 12th and 23rd February to or from the UK or Ireland. Tickets must also be bought at least 14 days in advance and are subject to availability.

Costa Calida

2011-02-28T12:55:00.000-08:00

PARAMOUNT, LAND DEAL SEALED AT LAST….

2011-02-23T04:18:00.000-08:00

It looks like the new “Paramount Theme Park and Studios” will now be built on land belonging to a privately owned company named INTERSA and Desarollo Amtrade, following an agreement on price between Intersa (the owners) and Proyectos Emblematicos led my Jesus Samper. Jesus Samper who is also the owner of Real Murcia Football Club, managed to reach an agreement with Intersa to purchase the land adjacent to the Alhama-Cartagena motorway, located in the south of Alhama de Murcia.
Originally Intersa and Desarollo Amtrade themselves were planning to build a residential golf complex (Sierra de Alhama)on this site, but the onset of the crisis made the planned project non profitable so building plans were scrapped.
The original, preferred site for the project was on the Condado de Alhama 11 site, (previously owned by Polaris world) but an agreement on price could not be achieved with the financial institutions who now own the land, following the economic difficulties experienced by Polaris world.
The new site in the south of Alhama de Murcia, owned by Intersa and Desarollo Amtrade, measures more than 1.5 million square meters, which is sufficient for the theme park. The land is located by the intersection of the RM2 (MU-602) and the RM23 (MU-603), close to Alhama de Murcia. However Jesus Samper did comment that more land adjacent may be purchased to give additional parking facilities for the theme park and studios.
Alhama council has said they will speed up the necessary permissions, which involve a change of use from residential to leisure. A spokesperson from the council said that this should not take longer than 3 months once Proyectos Emblematicos have the deeds to the land. Jesus Samper said that this should be sorted out next week.
The new Theme Park will create 20,000 jobs and bring an estimated 3.1 million visitors a year.
The shortage of hotel rooms in its first year of opening is estimated at 15,000. 2,500 US construction worders will also need to be accomodated nearby, providing great oportunities for long-term rentals.
Once the theme park opens, rentals currently offering 12-16 weeks´income a year – within the magic 45 minutes – will TRIPLE to 52 weeks a year, like Orlando in Florida.
On a general level, it will also provide a great incentive for developers to finish projects.

Paramount Executives arrive in Murcia

2011-02-23T04:03:00.000-08:00

Paramount landed in the Murcia Region yesterday afternoon to begin their tour and meet with President Ramon Luis Valcarcel, also attending will be the director of Culture and Tourism, Pedro Alberto Cruz, and Universities, Business and Research, Salvador Marín, along with license holder Jesus Samper. Michael Bartok along with 5 other Paramount executives arrived this morning at JC1, a modern building in the heart of Murcia, the office which is now the Paramount headquarters in Murcia to discuss the marketing and master plan of the theme park in the region. This afternoon there will be a press conference in which Marin and Cruz will explain the details of the master plan, Mr Bartok is expected to be present.
It is thought that the team will visit the airport at Covera to see the developments made also will visit La Manga as the Paramount executives are keen on this area They are also said to be visiting our home Condado De Alhama, although it is not yet known whether it will actually be today as they will remain in the area for several days to complete their work. We will certainly be on the look out for any news and any movement on Condado and will bring you the news as it happens.

Paramount are on the way!

2011-02-23T04:00:00.000-08:00

You would think that was enough good news for now, but last week the newspapers and radio stations were “buzzing” with the news that Paramount studios do indeed have plans to build a theme park and film studios in the Murcia region and that work is to commence imminently.

It has been announced that Paramount Studios intends to pursue its ambition to create Spain’s largest theme park in the Spanish region of Murcia. The park planned will rival Disneyland Paris and attract around 3 million visitors per year!

Paramount Pictures said on Friday it has reached a deal to open its first theme park in Europe in Spain, the world’s third most visited country, which will create thousands of jobs as well as create a need for an additional 20,000 hotel beds.

This development will undoubtedly create interest in property in the Murcia region. It is likely that rental returns will increase dramatically for property owners on the already popular Roda Golf and Beach Resort and now Corvera Golf and Country Club. The lure of an American style theme park, world-class golf courses, and an average temperature of 21 degrees will bring visitors from all over Europe to the region.

This is amazing news for the region of Murcia, but also for the very best resorts in the area of Roda Golf and Corvera Golf, it was recently reported that there are more people buying and completing the purchases of their properties in Murcia than any other region, so this latest news can only strengthen that position that Murcia is now the number one region in Spain.

With house prices now very attractive and with a much stronger pound, there has never been a better time to purchase your new property on the stunning Costa Calida in the region of Murcia.

Murcia Costa Calida New International Airport Spain

2011-02-23T03:11:00.000-08:00

The new airport Corvera International in Murcia Spain looks to be set to move forward, Valcarsel, Murcia’s President has announced that June 9th will bring the endorsement of the EU in Brussels for the continuation of Corvera airport.
The roads connecting the airport are complete and open, the tower is constructed and the concourse is well under way so this news will come as a huge relief for many.
The airport is considered an important step in putting Murcia on the tourist map.
They still need to consider the unhappy farmers with their tractors on the proposed runway….only in Spain, but maybe with the word that the project can complete the farmers will be given a fair deal and feel inclined to remove the tractors and all will end well.
Corvera Airport when it completes will be the closest airport to Condado De Alhama, it will also connect Murcia to the International tourists providing an alternative to Madrid. It is still too soon to have a new open date for the airport but it is proposed to be complete by the end of 2010….

The regional government of Murcia has decided to come to the rescue of the New International Airport of Murcia, which is being built in Corvera, and was facing uncertainty due to financial strain.
The autonomous executive, after looking at various options, has chosen to back the new airport up to the sum of 200 million euros. To be able to authorise acting as a guarantor for the bank loan the ruling PP government of Murcia comunidad presented their budget plan to the regional assembly last Thursday.
The building work, which is being carried out by Sacyr Vallehermoso, who are partnered with Cajamurcia, CAM and Grupo Fuertes, slowed down a few months ago due to the failure to obtain a bank loan of 160 million euros, the sum needed to complete the building work, which began in July last year, and are well on the way to being finished.
The airport now looks set to be finished by the end of 2010, if all goes to plan and the money is handed out. Due to the huge financial risk the regional government is taking in guaranteeing this bank loan, they are imposing strict conditions on Sacyr Vallehermoso.
They have stated that the loan cannot exceed 200 million euros, and must take place within a month of the change in the law, which will come into force on January 1st 2010. The loan will have to be repaid two months after completion of the building work.
In the case that Sacyr Vallehermoso doesn’t repay the loan in the set time they will face very serious consequences, and will have to pay damages.
The PP issued this statement upon signing to be the guarantor of the loan: “La grave restricción del crédito derivada de la crisis financiera ha afectado al proyecto declarado Actuación de Interés Regional, Aeropuerto Internacional de la Región de Murcia, hasta el punto de que, si la concesionaria no cuenta con el respaldo expreso de la Comunidad Autónoma, no le resulta posible acceder a la financiación imprescindible para esa actuación,” which would roughly translate as, “The serious lack of credit possibilities which has resulted from the financial crisis has affected this project which has been declared of regional interest, the International Airport of the Region of Murcia, to the point that, if the contractor doesn’t have backing from the Autonomous Community, it will not be able to access the financial aid necessary for completion.

More news about Murcia International Airport!

Hi all. The Winter months may be closing in (somewhat later than our friends in the UK!) but there’s still plenty to be excited about here in Murcia! We are starting to see more images and details emerging from the – rapidly emerging – Corvera International Airport! Below you can see a small gallery of shots we’ve assembled. the Spanish press is talking about flights in 2011!

So before San Javier, or Alicante, we will have our own fully International airport ready to whizz us to the USA or Caribbean…or, maybe better, whizz you are your guests here to wonderful Murcia for a visit!

This is not a political or electoral promise. The airport will become a reality in 2011 thanks to the Competition Commission of the European Union, who gave the green light to guarantee 200 million euros for the project. Money enough to finish construction.

José Ballesta the Minister of Public Works, announced that the first plane to land at Corvera will be towards the end of next year because the airport is already finished, while explaining that the decision in Brussels has been favourable because the endorsement was “not incompatible” with international law.

The airport will be a cornerstone for growth in the whole region, open up international business opportunities, boost tourism and will offer employment to 20,000 people!

The work plan includes four main priorities: The passenger terminal; The control tower and other buildings; Facilities (beacons etc.) and civil construction (airfields or drainage systems etc).

José Ballesta said are “many” airlines interested in operating at the airport, but these are subject to a confidentiality agreement, and will not become public until shortly before the airport becomes operational.

On top of all this, new access from the A-30 to the Corvera International Airport is well under construction. These works are planned to be finished before the end of the year.

You will be able to get more info very soon through the official web page which is now under construction.

As if all that were not enough, the high speed rail link (AVE) between Madrid and Cartagena will have a station at Corvera airport! This infrastructure is planned to be finished in 2014. We really are going to be on the map!

We are sure you will share our enthusiasm for this news. It can mean nothing else but increased interest in our area, business opportunities, and with news of the Paramount theme park – the good times are set to roll!

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