At yesterday’s presentation of the Gran Scala project in Ontiñena, Aragon, the promoters of the mega Spanish casino complex on the edge of the arid Los Monegros area declared they would invest over €1.3 billion and eventually generate 200,000 jobs. Construction is scheduled to commence in 2012 and when finished in 2022 the operators will have invested around €17 billion.

The Director of International Leisure Development (ILD), Paul Allegrini, stated that the future of leisure was in large projects such as Gran Scala and that ILD’s initial studies had demonstrated the suitability of northeast Spain for the realisation of a mega gaming complex. He thanked some seventy Ontiñena owners of land for their cooperation in signing options to purchase on 10 February, and the local Aragon government for their support.

Spanish businessman and ILD partner, Jaume Riera, commented that the project would go forward as it has been backed by the majority of the Otiñena residents as well as Bajo Cinca District and the autonomous government of Aragon. He added that Italy, Singapore and countries in the Middle East had expressed interest in hosting a project such as Gran Scala.

The leisure and gaming complex will be built in the style of Las Vegas and will be served by a high-speed train connection and direct motorways to the large urban areas of Barcelona and Zaragoza. The facilities, when completed in 2022, are expected to draw up to 25,000 tourists a year from around the world, including from the emerging tourism markets of China and India. Phase 1, to start construction in 2012, will have 10 casinos, 4 large theme parks including Spyland, and 25,000 hotel rooms.

The Mayor of Ontiñena, Angel Torres, spoke at the presentation and pointed out that the project was moving forward because of the tremendous efforts by local residents. “Without them it would not have been possible. When we realised we had a 90% chance of having Gran Scala in our municipality everyone worked hard to bring it here. Many people suffered at the thought of giving up their land but have considered the futures of their children and grandchildren." (E-02.26.09)

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