24 | THRILL-SEEKING IN SPAIN


www.nitravelnews.com


March/April 2023


Consider yourself a thrill-seeker? Spain is home to some of the world’s most exciting amusement and water parks with activities to entertain all the family...


PortAventura World PortAventura World reopened its doors on 17 February, ushering in the longest season in history with its first Carnival celebration, as well as other major new features as part of its ambitious sustainability and innovation strategy. In addition, the company is showing a clear commitment to the customer experience and, to this end, has created a new area dedicated to visitors who come every year to enjoy its attractions, hotels and shows. PortAventura World hopes to surpass


the record number of visitors registered in 2019 of 5.2 million people, just before the pandemic, as well as continuing to recover previous figures for international customers, which in 2022 were divided between the French market (18% of total visitors) and the UK (7%). PortAventura World will continue to grow sustainably,


demonstrating its


financial strength and resilience, with the development of new growth strategies such as the pillar of hotels being managed. The company will continue to expand


its hotel portfolio in the new financial year, after incorporating the Hotel Pirámide Salou and the Hotel Vila Centric in Vila-seca under


its management in


2022. All of this is part of PortAventura World’s strategy of innovation and diversification, and the company will continue to make selective moves towards other hotels in the area in the coming years. In the new season,


PortAventura Park will open its doors to the public for 276 days (+9% compared to 2022 and +17% compared to 2019), while Ferrari Land will open on 31 March and extend its calendar to 264 days, +3% compared to last year and +21% compared to 2021. In addition, Caribe Aquatic Park will extend its opening for more than 100 days, +7% compared to 2022, opening on 27 May.


The most popular Carnivals, at


PortAventura World One of the main novelties awaiting visitors


is the Carnival celebration inside the park, which will be inspired by popular Brazilian and Italian traditions. The resort will be putting on a large number of shows, as well as activities such as batucadas, parades of troupes and floats that will take place over weekends in February and March, as part of an edition of 15 non-consecutive days full of excitement and new experiences. Likewise, areas such as PortAventura Park will decorate several of its zones in pure carnival style and its giant egg, recognised in the Guinness World Records, will be dressed up for the occasion. The new shows include ‘Aires de Carnaval’,


which will be held in the Teatro Imperial; ‘Viva Carnaval’, which will take place in the Cantina; ‘La Reina del Carnaval’, which can be seen in the Far West Saloon, and ‘Magic


Carnaval’. Visitors will also be able to enjoy street entertainment such as ‘Remember’, ‘Bombastik’ and ‘Xanquers Venecianos’. Several troupes from Tarragona,


street


actors and entertainers, as well as a Brazilian animation group will also join the party. Another new feature in 2023 will be the sale of tickets with the visit date set by the customer, as well as tickets without a set date, with the possibility of visiting the destination on any day of the season. Resort guests will also be able to purchase ‘multiday’ tickets, with access for 2 or 3 consecutive days.


A strong environmental commitment In 2023,


PortAventura


World, dedicated to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), will continue to promote its strategy in terms of sustainability. The most important


Challenge’, created by PortAventura Word and LaLiga, and which aims to be the benchmark in new digital entertainment. There will also be a new mobile application that will make visits easier for customers from the moment they decide to come to PortAventura World. In addition, PortAventura World and Sony Pictures Entertainment have announced the creation of the world’s first creation of the world’s first dark ride roller coaster, ‘Uncharted’, inspired by the blockbuster film of the same name. The new attraction, which will open to the public within the park by mid-year, will offer an adrenaline- fuelled ride nearly 700 metres long and over 12 metres high. Likewise,


there initiative


in this regard will be the inauguration of its photovoltaic plant,


PortAventura Solar.


With an investment of close to 5 million euros, the project involves the installation of a total of 11,102 solar panels on an area of 6.4 hectares - equivalent to 9 football pitches - and generating 6.05 megawatts peak (MWp) of power, which aims to cover a third of the resort’s energy needs. PortAventura World works every day with the aim


of becoming an increasingly sustainable destination powered by


clean energy, but that’s not to say its social commitments will be left behind in the new season. In this respect, the company, in conjunction with the PortAventura Foundation, will continue to promote its Dreams Village project. This year, the housing complex is preparing to receive 200 families with children in vulnerable situations due to serious illness, as part of their recovery therapy. The Foundation will also continue to organise iconic events for its annual charity calendar, such as the charity dinner. The entertainment revolution and security efficiency PortAventura World will continue to


grow efficiently, leveraging innovation as a fundamental tool to achieve this, improving customer and employee satisfaction and creating long-term sustainable value. For these reasons, advances in digitisation are fundamental, as demonstrated by several assets that will be revealed throughout the season. PortAventura World seeks to establish an agile, collaborative and diverse environment that fosters innovation and transformation. This year will see the launch of a new version of the virtual game ‘The Beat


will continue to be a commitment to quality services in the gastronomic


area, with the promotion of healthy options such as plant- based food, fusion cuisine, healthy


dishes, and organic and zero-kilometre products, as well as menus for coeliacs, vegetarians, vegans and flexitarians. Another of PortAventura World’s top priorities has been and will continue to be


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