Phuket Mining Museum now open

PHUKET: Governor Tri Augkaradacha stepped up to buy the first entrance ticket to the Phuket Mining Museum yesterday to mark the official opening of the 180-million-baht attraction.

The museum showcases Phuket’s tin mining history and the lives of the Chinese miners of the era through indoor and outdoor exhibits in both English and Thai languages.

Outdoor displays include an abandoned mine including rail cars for transporting ore and other machinery used in tin mining.

Inside the main building, designed in the Sino-Portuguese style, are displays depicting Chinese migrant workers panning for tin and engaged in other aspects of their daily lives.

The 180-million-baht facility covers 400 rai on Kathu-Koh Kaew road and was funded by the Phuket Provincial Office (130mn baht) and Kathu Municipality (50mn baht).

Construction at the site began in 2006 and was completed in mid-2008. Since then, workers at the museum have been busy installing the displays.

“This Chinese heritage and our history of mining belongs not only to the people of Kathu, but to all of Phuket,” said Kathu Mayor Chaianan Suthikul.

“I intend to develop and promote this museum as a cultural tourism attraction, but I still need more experts to help develop the standard of the displays at the museum, so please visit the museum and give us your feedback,” he added.

Gov Tri praised the museum: “Natural resources are no longer enough to attract tourists. We need to also develop our cultural attractions. This museum is spot on,” he said.

The museum is open daily from 9am to 4pm.

Entry costs 100 baht per foreign adult, 50 baht per foreign child (under 15), 50 baht per Thai adult and 20 baht per Thai child.

Entry is free for students in uniform, Thais over 60 years old and disabled people.

To see the location of the Phuket Mining Museum on Google Maps, click here.

— Pimwara Choksakulpan