Declaring it a beacon of hope for a long-forgotten land, the Government of Aragon in northeast Spain yesterday signed an agreement with International Leisure Development (ILD) for a €17 billion project in the arid Los Monegros region near Zaragoza. Described as a ‘leisure city’ the project will cover 2,025 hectares in three phases that ultimately should employ 65,000 people and attract around 25 million visitors by 2015.

During yesterday’s presentation at Government House in Zaragoza details of the project were put forward. The first phase of the development, due to be completed by the end of 2010, will commence in the third quarter of 2008 and include three theme parks and the first casino hotels. A golf course, convention centres, racetrack, auditorium and museums are also part of the project, which will be finished within fifteen years.

The huge development will initially be known as Gran Scala and it seems that the plans are indeed on a grand scale. It is hoped that the 32 casinos, 70 hotels, 232 restaurants and around 500 shops that are envisaged for the semi-desert land in Los Monegros will attract millions of foreign visitors. The leisure city could become the largest entertainment centre in the world and second only to Las Vegas for gaming.

When finished in 2023 Gran Scala should make some €677 million each year for the regional government of Aragon and €1 billion for the federal government. The investors promoting the project have guaranteed that care for environmental issues will be paramount. Plans for the naturally arid and largely unpopulated area will be overseen by experts on water recycling, efficient watering systems, preservation of flora and fauna.

The president of the autonomous community of Aragon, Marcelino Iglesias, attending the presentation given by ILD commented, “Gran Scala will combine the gaming entertainment of Las Vegas with Disneyland style theme parks.” Members of the UK-based ILD consortium are Darlen Ltd, Finidusco Holding, Aristocrat Technologies, Europtima, UFA Insurance, Ultragroup, Alea, BM Parks, Havilla Partners, Architects Association, Hot Games UK and Thibault Verbiest. (E-12.13.07)

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