Viva España!

Tibidabo’s High Point

Perched high above Barcelona and offering panoramic city views, Tibidabo Amusement Park takes its name from the mountain on which it stands. Founded in 1901, Tibidabo is Spain’s oldest park. Generations have grown up having fun at the park, which is now owned by the Barcelona City Council and managed by BSM (Barcelona de Serveis Municipals).

“Many Barcelona residents who visit Tibidabo as children return as adults with their children. It is a family park with a strong emotional connection with its visitors,” says Rosa Ortiz, director of Parc d’Atraccions Tibidabo.

This cherished park offers more than 35 attractions, including classics such as Avió, the original, propeller-powered low-tech flight simulator dating back to 1928.

Tibidabo continues to evolve. “Merlí, a 52-meter-high free-fall attraction offering 360° views of Barcelona, has just launched,” Ortiz says. This season, the park celebrates 20 years of its Tibiclub annual family pass with a new program of shows.

Tibidabo balances two needs: “We are an amusement park some days, and on the others, we are a city space open to visitors,” Ortiz says.

By listening to guests, the park refines its offerings to enhance their experience. Their feedback has led to the Merlí ride, advance attraction opening times for the youngest visitors, and a breastfeeding room. “The new, award-winning Cuca de Llum funicular was also a very important investment, making it possible to access the park directly, quickly, and sustainably,” Ortiz adds.

The park makes decisions based on four strategic axes, which are sustainability, education, solidarity, and experiences. Tibidabo has “an ambitious investment plan,” Ortiz says. “We want to continue to be the amusement park of Barcelonans. We want to maintain our essence and values and continue to be the park of happiness.”

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Pioneering PortAventura World

PortAventura World’s managing director, Fernando Aldecoa, aims to make 2025—the park’s 30th anniversary—an unforgettable year. “We want to share this special milestone with all our visitors—those who have been with us from the start and those who are yet to discover us,” he says.

Innovation and sustainability are central to PortAventura World’s business model. At IAAPA Honors 2025 in Rust, Germany, PortAventura World won the inaugural Brass Ring Award for Best Sustainability Program. In part, the resort took home the honor for creating a resort within the resort that welcomes more than 400 families annually who have children facing a serious illnesses.

“What makes us truly happy is making PortAventura Dreams Village a reality,” Aldecoa tells Funworld. Families with children who have spent long periods of time in hospitals are given a complimentary week-long stay with access to the three parks.

“Every one of their smiles reminds us why we do what we do,” Aldecoa says. “Innovation at PortAventura World goes beyond new attractions—it reflects how we want to operate and continually improve to deliver amazing experiences.”

Physical and digital thrills combine in the park’s new immersive mixed reality experiences. El Diablo Nio is an augmented reality experience that enhances the park’s El Diablo: Mine Train coaster. Visitors wearing mixed reality VR headsets will discover a parallel dimension as they journey through the Mexican mine. Hysteria in Boothill is another haunting mixed reality experience on offer.

“The attractions industry is rapidly evolving toward a future that is more immersive, technologically advanced, sustainable, and inclusive,” Aldecoa says. “… AI will optimize park design, traffic flow, and operations, making visits smoother and more enjoyable.” PortAventura World recently launched an AI-driven chatbot named Pawla to meet visitors’ needs.

PortAventura World has supercharged its FiestAventura show for 2025, adding “an amazing drone show,” Aldecoa says. The park has also debuted the Un Viaje Fascinante show. Plus, guests will find a decorated park, revamped food and beverage options, seasonal offerings, and commemorative 30th anniversary merchandise.  And as the park looks to the future, it does so with sustainability in mind.

“Sustainability will become an essential pillar, with green design, zero-emission transport, and waste reduction becoming standard expectations for visitors,” he adds. “Inclusion and accessibility will also shape the future, as parks develop neurodiversity-friendly spaces and adapt experiences in real time to meet diverse guest needs. Businesses will continue innovating their models, moving toward dynamic pricing, memberships, and loyalty ecosystems that foster stronger guest relationships,” Aldecoa says.

PortAventura World plans to embrace these opportunities by offering experiences that combine technologies with environmental responsibility, and a focus on people. “The future of the industry is full of possibilities, and we feel ready to lead this change, providing experiences that thrill, inspire and respect our environment,” Aldecoa says.

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Lanzarote’s One-Stop Fun Spot

The island of Lanzarote is a tourist hotspot, famous for its winter sunshine and volcanic landscapes. Martin and Sarah Hancock, owners of Rooftop Biosfera Lanzarote, have created a thriving family entertainment business in the coastal resort of Puerto del Carmen.

The Hancock’s opened the 2,000-square-meter facility on the top floor of an open-air shopping center in 2016. “We wanted to create something completely different for all the family to enjoy together on holiday, so the Rooftop concept was born—a range of attractions upon one roof,” Martin Hancock explains. Rooftop Biosfera Lanzarote includes an open-air cinema, a daytime chill-out terrace, dinosaur-themed mini golf, a prehistoric-themed restaurant, and a 6D simulator ride.

“We evolve and improve our installations every year. This year we have added animatronic dinosaurs and new interactive screens to keep regular guests excited on their return. We have also recently opened an escape room,” Hancock says. The business has expanded with themed mini golf courses in two other resorts on the island.

Success hinges on having a fantastic team, he believes. “We are constantly searching for the best staff to give the ultimate customer service experience.”

Continual reinvestment in the business is essential, Hancock adds. “We always try to see things from the customer perspective. We are not afraid to try out new ideas. We love the challenge and being creative.”

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Central Parques

Parques Reunidos retains a strong presence in Spain. The group’s water parks, including Parque Warner Beach and the Aquopolis parks, are among the country’s top summer destinations for families.

Madrid’s Parque Warner Beach opened in 2014, complementing its parent park, Parque Warner Madrid. Spanning 40,000 square meters, the themed water park features iconic Warner Bros. characters. “Parque Warner Beach offers exciting water attractions for all ages. From thrilling water slides to relaxing lazy rivers and children’s play areas, there’s something for every member of the family to enjoy,” says Diego Gracia, regional director for Spain and Italy at Parques Reunidos.

In recent years, Parque Warner Beach has undergone a transformation, elevating the visitor experience and unveiling new, exclusive attractions. Highlights have included a winning combination of themed water rides, Aquaman (a FlyingSaucer 45) and Black Manta (a TornadoWave 60), from ProSlide.

Parques Reunidos prioritizes enhancing the visitor experience. “We follow a data-driven strategy with a mindset of continuous improvement,” Gracia explains.

Two years ago, that led to the Parque Warner debut of the multi-launch roller coaster from Intamin, Batman: Gotham City Escape. “This was one of Parques Reunidos’ largest investments ever, and it is already paying off,” he says. Other improvements included  Pase Correcaminos (Roadrunner Pass) virtual queue system and self-service kiosks in the parks.

This summer, Parque Warner replaced the Aquaman Nighttime Spectacular with a new nighttime show, Justice League: Rise of the Penguin. According to Gracia, this “breathtaking production” seamlessly integrates drones, water projections, and aquatic choreography.

Gracia believes the strategic integration of immersive technologies and digitalization will drive the development of new guest experiences with personalized content. “Collaborating closely with IP partners will be essential,” Garcia concludes.

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A Natural Progression

Naturland in Andorra is blossoming under a new leadership team headed by General Manager Xabier Ajona. “We moved away from the concept of an amusement park and redefined ourselves as an outdoor activity center,” explains Vicky Grau, director of marketing and communications at Naturland.

Changing the name from Naturlandia to Naturland underscored the new direction while retaining brand recognition. The rebrand reinforced the attraction’s connection with nature.

“We also focused on sustainability through several actions. First, we closed the animal park, as it no longer aligned with the type of activity we wanted to offer, and we worked hard to find suitable sanctuaries for the animals. Gradually, we’ve eliminated motor vehicles and replaced them with electric ones. We’ve added solar panels over parking lot canopies to provide shade and energy. We’ve also removed plastic from food service,” Grau says.

Naturland is a year-round outdoor activity center that adapts its offerings by season. Guests can participate in leisure-oriented activities at 1,600 meters and more sports-based activities at 2,000 meters. The goal is to link the two sectors with a transportation system in the future.

The park’s star attraction is Tobotronc, an alpine slide spanning 5.3 kilometers. Naturland will soon open Andorra’s longest zipline (more than 600 meters long) this fall. “It will be a double zipline that allows you to descend seated or lying face-forward,” Grau says.

Recent investments have added value and year-round appeal. These include the N’Boscat sky trail, the Forestline curved zipline, and the development of the Bike Center and equestrian activity. “We also opened the Borda de Conangle Mountain Lodge,” Grau says.

Naturland welcomes around 120,000 visitors annually and aims to develop further large-scale activities to drive business. The center has invested in a new e-commerce platform to make purchasing easier. It has also diversified food offerings to satisfy guests. 

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