Tourism Complex Gets Approval For Two New Casinos in Barcelona

The Catalonia government in Spain has approved the Urban-Development Master Plan (PDU) for the proposed BCN World in Barcelona now renamed as the ‘Tourist and Recreation Complex’.

Spread over 750,000 sq. m. the complex is likely to have two casinos occupying 30,000 sq.m. International casino operators Hard Rock International and Melco are expected to submit proposals within the next three months. Group Peralada in association with Asian casino operator Genting is also expected to submit a proposal. All three companies have deposited €2.5 million as a bond for land purchase within the complex.

Josep Rull, the Minister of Territory and Sustainability said that the plan was finalized after six months of public consultation, which saw the plan being changed in areas relating to infrastructure and environmental protection. He stated that the new plan has also addressed a number of concerns that had been highlighted by local councils and other institutions.

An economic study carried out by the Universidad Rovilai Virgili de Tarragona (University of Tarragona) has projected that tourist spends in the complex can reach €860 to €1.145 billion per year. An estimated 12,000 direct jobs will be created as a result of the complex and tourist overnight stays could go up to 1.7 to 2.1 million after a year of operation. Total visitation to the complex is likely to be between 3 million and 5 million annually.

Development of the complex is scheduled to begin this summer. Catalan Vice President and Catalan Minister for Economy Oriol Junqueras has stated that nearly €2.5 billion would be invested into the project, creating around 10,000 jobs in total. In a statement Oriol Junqueras said,

This is a worthy project; it generates important investment, is more realistic that the previous ones and more integrated from an urban policy and social perspective

Plans for the complex have undergone significant revision resulting in reduction of the proposed number of hotels and casinos. Originally the plan was to build six casinos in a typical Las Vegas Strip-style, along with other facilities such as amusement parks, theatres, shopping malls, as well as business facilities like conference centres.

After protests, gaming space was reduced to just 4 percent of the total space. Under the new plans, 57 percent will be devoted to hotels, 16 percent to leisure facilities and 7 percent to commercial usage. The region of Catalonia currently has four casinos and the two new ones in the Tourist and Recreation Complex will bring the total to six.

Adrian Sterne

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