Following a 29-million-baht refurbishment, the aquarium at Chiang Mai Zoo in Thailand reopened on 1 April 2024. The first aquarium in the nation is predicted to draw more tourists than before as a result of the project.
According to Wuthichai Muangman, the zoo’s director, Attapon Srihayrun, the director-general of the Zoological Park Organisation of Thailand (ZPO), gave the zoo a budget of more than 29 million baht in 2023 to restore its aquarium.
Meeting global standards
According to Attapon, the updated aquarium promotes the idea of preserving the environment and the planet. After the reopening, he anticipates a 10% increase in aquarium revenue from entrance fees, saying:
“It will be a popular tourist attraction because it was the first place in the country that brought the sea to a mountain, and it meets global standards. The aquarium is also a good learning centre for kids and youths too.” He said that the entry prices are inexpensive in comparison to aquariums of a comparable nature in other nations, and also added that the aquarium would receive an additional budget of one million baht from the ZPO to procure more marine species.
See also: What makes a great aquarium?
Narutat Chareonsedtasin, CEO of Marine Scape (Thailand), the company which oversees Chiang Mai Zoo Aquarium, states that the aquarium has the longest underwater tunnel in the world, measuring 133 metres, and it has the largest collection of river fish species in Thailand, with over 80 species on display from the Mekong River Basin and Chao Phraya Basin. He adds that the refurbishment included improvements to the aquarium’s ventilation, air conditioning, pathways, and marine species’ quality of life.
Elsewhere in Thailand, the Columbia Pictures Aquaverse water park is now open. It features attractions based on Ghostbusters, Jumanji, Zombieland, The Emoji Movie, Hotel Transylvania, and more.
