Waging War: Pollensa's military theme park

The Spanish Government's cuts to departmental budgets as means of reducing Spain's deficit have fallen hardest on overseas aid, transport and tourism. One ministry that has been less affected is defence, but cuts there will also be to its budget, and these cuts look likely to have a direct impact on Puerto Pollensa.

The military base in Puerto Pollensa has, for some time now, been the subject of discussion as to its being opened up to public access. The Spanish ministry of defence has been against the whole idea, but now, as part of the government cuts, it is being forced to rethink, and the rethinking has begun. The military base, already something of a holiday camp, as it is used for vacations by military personnel, is not only destined to acquire much more of a holiday feel, it is destined also to very much be opened up to the general public, and to tourists. The first military theme park and holiday complex in Europe is coming soon to Puerto Pollensa.

The idea of a military theme park is not entirely novel; there are, for example, a couple in China, though a proposal for one in the USA (in Virginia to be precise) was rejected a few years ago. But nearer to home, if home happens to be England, there is of course a military adventure theme park in Scarborough.

The plans for the Puerto Pollensa base are, though, on an altogether grander scale than the Yorkshire theme park. These plans, the brainchild of Werner Witzbold, the CEO of Düsseldorf-based Narr A.G., a major German leisure and travel company, contemplate the conversion of the existing accommodation into superior apartments to at least the equivalent of four-star standard, while the theme park itself will feature tanks, landing craft, assault courses, rifle ranges and missile-launchers.

As part of the arrangement, Narr would acquire the land from the Spanish Government but guarantee the continuing presence of the Canadair fire-fighting planes and personnel. The sale of land would swell governmental coffers significantly, though a precise value has not been quoted as yet. It is understood that, in line with reform of the regional tourism law in the Balearics, the accommodation at the base is considered "mature" and therefore open to redevelopment, as is the case elsewhere on the islands.

But how can the accommodation be covered by the tourism law? Is it not defence property? Well, yes, but in accordance with local ordinance in Mallorca, it is also classified as being part of the POOT regulations, those which cover land in particular municipalities that is designated for tourism purposes.

Opposition parties at Pollensa town hall that have been pressing for the base to be opened up to the public and that boycotted the 75th anniversary celebrations earlier this year might be happy that they have got their wishes as to public access, but they are none too happy at the prospect of a German company taking over the site. There is history, after all, though one would hope there are no plans for a bar at the base to be named Condor.

They are also not too happy with some of the activities being planned. The missile-launchers, for instance. Narr insists that these would of course only fire blanks and, after dark, rockets that would explode in creating nightly fireworks displays.

Narr hopes to be able to attract tourists from different nationalities with the aim of staging weekly major battles. Which all sounds as though it might be fun, but put a whole load of Germans and Brits onto the in-complex battlefield or even let them loose down the pinewalk and it might be a recipe for disaster. Still, I suppose we will find out, assuming that the plans are approved. And as for the name, one hasn't been decided but "Combat Zone" appears to be one suggestion. There again, it might just turn out to be some sort of a stunt - let's face it, other theme park proposals for Mallorca don't ever really get anywhere - and while we're talking of names, might Narr's Herr Witzbold not be better advised considering a "Batman" theme?


Any comments to andrew@thealcudiaguide.com please.