Greece intends to create the world’s first theme park focused on education and entertainment about Alexander the Great, with the goal of enhancing tourism and drawing investments to Northern Greece, reports New Greek Television.
The “Alexander Theme Park” will be built on an 8-acre location close to Amphipolis, positioned between Kavala and Serres. It will offer both indoor and outdoor family attractions, blending interactive learning with entertainment. Construction is anticipated to start in 2026, with the investment projected to be under €10 million.
Grigoris Avanidis, project manager at DreamWorkers, made the announcement during a tourism and real estate conference organised by The American College of Thessaloniki. He remarked that the concept is inspired by the region’s ties to Alexander the Great and the recent excavation of the Kasta Tomb, which has sparked renewed global interest in the area.
First theme park dedicated to Alexander the Great
“This is the first theme park in the world dedicated to Alexander,” said Avanidis. He mentioned that the project steers clear of “heavy historical themes” to attract a wide audience, positioning it as both a cultural landmark and a means to enhance the local tourism economy.
Conference speakers highlighted the necessity for Greece to create additional thematic attractions, and Avanidis noted increasing interest from both Greek and international investors looking for locations throughout the country.
Georgios Zografos, a consultant in property development and a professor at the Hellenic Open University, emphasised the geographic advantages of Northern Greece and advocated for stronger ties with neighbouring Balkan and Eurasian markets.
In 2024, foreign investment in the region rose to €3 billion compared to €2.1 billion in 2023. The majority of investors are from Bulgaria and Romania. Projects like the Neapolis Initiative and the Gerat Resort in Eastern Kavala demonstrate the region’s increasing prominence. Zografos added that underutilised areas could evolve into significant tourism and residential centres.
Tasos Andreadis, the CEO of Stanta S.A., mentioned that initial indicators suggest 2025 could be a record year for Greek tourism. Nonetheless, he cautioned that uncontrolled expansion might place pressure on local communities. “Each area must be assessed for its capacity to handle tourism, or we risk overwhelming the very places we want to promote,” Andreadis said.
Thessaloniki’s hotel development is shifting to luxury. Stefan Merkenhof, tourism director at CBRE Atria, noted that five-star hotels are increasing while lower-rated properties are declining. The city has 151 hotels, with half in the downtown area. Significant urban projects are in progress, notably the transformation of the Allatini ceramics factory site, featuring Thessaloniki’s first high-rise and new parks.
Konstantinos Dendrinos, CEO of Nesaj Real Estate, stated that Saudi Arabia is shifting towards tourism in preparation for a post-oil era. The kingdom aims to attract 150 million tourists yearly by 2030 and has initiated $1 trillion in tourism infrastructure projects, including luxury resorts and hotels. He urged Greece to act swiftly to stay competitive in the global tourism market.
In other theme park construction news, Universal is closing in on a deal for a UK park as it prepares to open Epic Universe in Orlando, Florida, and France’s Puy du Fou is also eyeing a UK expansion.
