Agreement for Puy du Fou Theme Park in Brazil
Photo: Divulgação
(eap) The first Puy du Fou theme park outside Europe is to be developed in the Brazilian city of Maricá in the state of Rio de Jainero. This was made official at the International Tourism Trade Fair Fitur in Madrid, Spain. At Fitur, the mayor of Maricá, Washington Quaquá, signed a letter of intent with Puy du Fou, with the prospect of turning Maricá into an international tourist destination. The project involves the construction of a 250-hectare park that is expected to attract millions of visitors annually and create up to 8,000 jobs – 5,600 during construction and 2,400 direct jobs when in operation.
“I am very proud that the most awarded park in the world is considering Maricá as its next destination. This project will help promote national and international tourism in the municipality, creating quality jobs while reinforcing our commitment to sustainable economic development and the promotion of Brazilian culture,” said Quaquá.
Puy du Fou Brazil will tell the country’s history through shows that will recreate important events with realistic sets, special effects and performances, transporting the audience to different eras. “It is very exciting to be working on this project, which will be a great journey through Brazil’s exciting history and a pilgrimage through the country’s popular memory. With Puy du Fou Brazil, we want to inspire people and root their imagination in the culture, using the best technologies, with unique creativity and vision,” emphasized Erwan de la Villéon, CEO of Puy du Fou España, the second location of the French Puy du Fou group.
The project is supported by the federal government of Brazil through the Ministry of Tourism and the Brazilian Agency for International Tourism Promotion (Embratur) as well as by the state government of Rio de Janeiro through the State Secretariat of Tourism. “The Puy du Fou project is a unique opportunity to publicize Brazil’s historical, cultural and natural heritage and thus make a decisive contribution to promoting our enormous tourism potential,” explained Tourism Minister Celso Sabino.
The President of Embratur, Marcelo Freixo, also expressed his enthusiasm for Maricá’s initiative. “Puy du Fou is strengthening Brazil’s tourism potential at an excellent time, as we reached record levels in 2024, both in terms of the number of international tourists and spending per tourist,” he said.
In addition to a Puy du Fou theme park in Brazil, there are concrete plans for another one to be built in Oxfordshire, UK. ■
