PortAventura World celebrates its 30th anniversary by dismissing sale rumors

PortAventura World, the largest theme park resort in Catalonia, celebrated its 30th anniversary this week with a major event attended by hundreds of institutional partners encouraging future growth plans. 

The president of PortAventura, Arturo Mas-Sardá, confirmed the park is not for sale after old rumors of Universal wanting to buy the resort.       

Catalan President Salvador Illa praised PortAventura as a “success story,” recalling early controversy around its development. He encouraged continued cooperation between local leaders and backed further tourism development in the region, including the controversial Hard Rock project. “We are open to generating prosperity by deseasonalizing tourism,” Illa said.  

The Hard Rock casino project, first proposed over a decade ago to be built near the amusement park, has faced years of delays and changes causing divided opinions among political parties. 

“We are ready to grow, to lead, to contribute even more to Catalonia, we just need to be committed to the territory,” Pere Segura, the mayor of Vila-seca, said in hope for the project to be moved forward

The resort is located in Vila-Seca and Salou in Tarragona on the Costa Daurada, about an hour south of Barcelona. Mas-Sardá noted the park has had a major economic impact on the area and explained workers at the facilities represent 3.5% of the active population of the region. “More than 24,000 people from 60 different nationalities work directly and indirectly each season,” he said.

“It has changed the landscape, yes, but above all it has changed the outlook, it has provided work, it has strengthened the identity of Tarragona and it has given opportunities to many families,” Segura said.

The mayor of Salou, Pere Granados, called the resort “one of the great engines of wealth for his territory,” building strong connections with the local community. 

The 30th anniversary event ended with the premiere of the new FiestAventura night show featuring more than 300 drones.