Ambitious completion deadline for National Aquarium

The Malta National Aquarium currently in its early construction phase after being in the planning pipeline since 2007 and construction is expected to reach completion by the end of 2012.

Anyone visiting the Fra Ben area in Qawra will now be presented by metal walls in front of Ta’ Fra Ben restaurant where the parking area used to be and the sound of trucks digging the area up to make way for the national aquarium estimated at around €15.5 million to build.

Chief Executive Office of the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) Josef Formosa Gauci said the Malta Tourism Authority it was an integral investment into Malta’s tourism industry as was St Paul’s Bay Promenade inaugurated two months ago.

“The MTA believes in investing to improve local product. Project planning started in years ago but the financial model was not viable until 2007 when EU funding and the Public Private Partnership scheme was made available. Delays in the commencement of construction occurred due to a complicated contract and after three calls for offers were made to find a contractor,” Formosa Gauci said.

MTA’s CEO also explained that Qawra was selected to as the new location for the aquarium due to being a known tourist destination since the sixties.

“Qawra still requires more year-round attractions for both tourists and locals and the national aquarium will be an attraction of interest, biodiversity, environment awareness and education for all ages,” Formosa Gauci said.

Kenneth Borg, one of architects working on the project explained that the total area covered by the aquarium project will be 3,200 square metres. 

“2,500 square metres will be taken up by tanks with the biggest tank measuring 12.5 metres with a tunnel going through it. Excavation is now its final stages and construction will commence in coming days,” Borg explained.

Borg also said that their targets may be a bit ambitious but a two-storey parking area and promenade should be available and restored to the public by summer 2012.

However, when asked whether the public will have to pay to park at the new car park if not visiting the aquarium, which was previously free to all, Borg said: “The area will be accessible to the public during and after construction. I do not know whether payment will need to be made for parking yet but this is going to be huge investment to improve this area.”

Judging by the further responses given by Borg, it seems most likely that parking will be at a fee even if not visiting the aquarium and may even result in negative consequences for the Ta’ Fra Ben restaurant.

Speaking during the presentation, parliamentary secretary for culture and tourism Mario de Marco said that Qawra was the heart of the tourist zone and some of the first hotels were built in the area during the sixties and seventies.

“35% (15400) of the total 44,000 hotel beds in Malta are located in Qawra. Tourist

figures show that we have had four years of record breaking yearly amounts and 35% of these figures are repeat visitors. It is for this reason that we cannot keep offering the same things,” de Marco said.

Apart from discussing the aquarium project, de Marco also mentioned another project to restore the Salini saltpans in the future: “The Salini saltpans are some of the oldest in the Mediterranean and will offer a whole new experience to both tourists and locals.”