Singapore Oceanarium will enhance tourism while supporting sustainability: Grace Fu
Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu (in green dress) and Mr Ng Hsiao Feng (right), director of education at Singapore Oceanarium, on a tour of the Ancient Waters section of the Singapore Oceanarium on July 23.
SINGAPORE - The
Singapore Oceanarium will enhance the Republic's tourism landscape while contributing to its environmental goals, said Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu.
The revamped oceanarium, which is part of the Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) integrated resort, contributes to Singapore's position as a leading tourist destination, Ms Fu said during its launch on July 23 following extensive renovations.
'As a key milestone of RWS' expansion, the oceanarium will strengthen our appeal to both local and international visitors with refreshed and immersive experiences.
'At the same time, its focus on marine education, research and conservation supports Singapore's broader sustainability objectives,' added Ms Fu, who is also Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations.
Formerly known as the SEA Aquarium, the attraction was the world's largest oceanarium and public aquarium when it first opened in 2012.
After closing for renovations on April 30, it is now reopened three times bigger than before, housing more than 40,000 marine animals – from sea jellies to spotted seahorses and various species of shark – across 22 zones.
Accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, it is also a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the Southeast Asian Zoo and Aquarium Association, bodies which aim to enhance the conservation and management efforts of zoos and aquariums.
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An adjacent research and learning centre supports the oceanarium with immersive learning laboratories, collaborative workspaces and seminar rooms.
The centre, powered entirely by solar energy, supports marine scientists in their research and drives marine science outreach.
The oceanarium has partnered with NUS on a five-year applied research collaboration, and is also collaborating with NTU's Earth Observatory of Singapore on climate resilience and marine conservation.
'The Singapore Oceanarium and our new research and learning centre underscore our ambition to position Singapore as a leading hub in Asia for marine biodiversity conservation, ecosystem protection and restoration,' said Mr Lim Kok Thay, executive chairman and acting chief executive officer of Genting Singapore, the holding company for RWS.
'It builds upon more than a decade of foundational work under SEA Aquarium – further advancing our long-standing commitment to education, research and conservation,' he said.
In a media release, RWS noted the launch of Singapore Oceanarium is part of its $6.8 billion expansion, adding this would 'enhance Singapore's position as a must-visit destination'.
The expansion includes the launch of the Minion Land attraction at Universal Studios Singapore in February, and the three-storey sustainable mall Weave earlier in July.
Singapore Tourism Board chief executive Melissa Ow described the oceanarium as a 'significant milestone' in Singapore's Tourism 2040 road map, which aims to cultivate future demand for tourism and enhance the Republic's appeal as a destination.
'This world-class attraction by Resorts World Sentosa exemplifies our commitment to create diverse and distinctive experiences that resonate with travellers seeking inspiring and purposeful journeys,' she said.
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