Swansea Labour council aims to make a splash with new aquarium
Swansea is to get a new state-of-the-art aquarium to add to its increasing list of impressive visitor attractions in Swansea. It’s listed as one over 100 ambitious commitments the Labour administration’s manifesto says it will deliver over the next 5 years, if elected on May 5th.
The aquarium, which is set to be situated between Swansea Arena and a repurposed Civic Centre and is expected to be yet another major tourist attraction for Swansea, as well as offering an important interactive and immersive educational resource. The aquarium will add to Swansea’s growing reputation as a destination city.
Already Swansea’s new Arena is expected to attract 350,000 visitors to the city every year, and the planned Skyline Park attraction on Kilvey Hill is estimated to bring in another 750,000 a year. That’s 1.1 million new visitors boosting the Swansea economy.
Speaking at the manifesto launch Cllr Rob Stewart Labour leader of Swansea Council said “We are already talking to partners about this fantastic new attraction and the go-ahead for a new aquarium would be another massive boost for our tourism economy which is already worth nearly half a billion a year to our city and region. It will add to the city’s growing attractions and give even more reasons for people to visit and holiday here,”
Cabinet member for Regeneration investment and tourism Cllr Robert Francis- Davies said “The new aquarium attraction will combine live exhibits with digital interactive and immersive technology which will a first for the U.K. It will also be an important educational resource for children and students in Swansea’
“Following on from Swansea Arena, this is the latest in a number of exciting projects Swansea Labour is bringing to the city as we build a better Swansea.”
The interactive Aquarium is set to be based on a similar concept in Brisbane, Australia – the Cube, which is one of the world’s largest interactive learning display spaces in the world.
The Labour administration plans to press ahead quickly with the repurposing of the civic centre site if returned on May 5th, and the aquarium is expected to be one of the first new elements delivered. It is hoped it will be operational by 2025.
Further announcements on new visitor attractions are expected in the Summer.
