Panwa aquarium “to re-open in time for Songkran’

CAPE PANWA: Following Governor Udomsak Usawarangkura on Monday announcing that a private aquarium may be built at Surin Beach, Phuket Marine Biology Center (PMBC) director Wannakiat Thubthimsang today told the Gazette that the PMBC aquarium will be open in time for the Songkran holiday period in April 2005.

The PMBC aquarium closed more than two years ago for renovations. The work should have taken around a year, but problems with the water system caused a long delay.

However, K. Wannakiat today said that the delay was over and that staff were now in the process of checking the work and the water supply, and re-stocking the tanks.

“I think the aquarium will be open in time for the Songkran festival,” he said.

The 20-year-old aquarium closed in August 2002 to allow repairs and refurbishment costing 82 million baht to be carried out.

The plans included remodeling the old interior and creating a glass tunnel so visitors could walk “under water” and see the fish and animals in the tanks from a different perspective.

In the past, staff of the PMBC have stated their aim of having more the 100 species of aquatic creatures, including fish and sea coral, in the aquarium.

It is hoped that the aquarium will attract around 500,000 visitors annually and generate at least 10 million baht a year.