Flooding in Bangkok is starting to take a real toll on Thailand’s tourism industry. Even ASEAN’s oldest theme park has sustained enough damage that it’s now forced to close entirely.
That park is Siam Amazing Park, a 48-hectare theme park and water park located in Bangkok. Founded in November 1980, Siam Amazing Park suffered severe damage following five days of flooding, according to the Bangkok Post.
“The Sea of Bangkok” Forced to Shut Down
Popularly known as “the Sea of Bangkok,” the theme park now requires extensive renovation and will remain closed for six months. Management decided to halt operations entirely to conduct a thorough inspection of all rides and attractions.
Wuthichai Luangamornlert, Managing Director of Siam Park City Co. Ltd., said this flood is the worst the park has ever experienced, surpassing even the impact of the devastating 2011 floods, as reported by Nation Thailand.
He added that only around 30% of the park’s grounds were affected back in 2011, while this time, nearly the entire park was submerged.
The Financial Toll
“The park estimates losses of approximately 100 million baht (roughly Rp 53.32 billion) due to lost revenue from the September-October school holiday period, as well as planned year-end activities,” Wuthichai said.
Once floodwaters fully recede, the park will conduct a comprehensive damage assessment to support negotiations with financial institutions regarding rehabilitation funding.
The Bigger Picture: Bangkok’s Flood Crisis
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration declared the capital a disaster-affected area on September 26, after rainfall reached nearly 300mm (12 inches) within 48 hours, causing flooding across major roads throughout the city.
This flooding comes just as Thailand prepares to enter its peak tourism season, with a target of attracting 33 million foreign tourist arrivals by year’s end.
What This Means for Travelers Heading to Bangkok
If Siam Amazing Park was on your Bangkok itinerary, you’ll need to plan around its six-month closure and consider alternative attractions instead. More broadly, given the scale of this flooding event right at the start of peak tourism season, it’s worth checking current conditions and attraction operating status before finalizing a Bangkok trip in the coming months, as other venues across the city may also be dealing with flood-related disruptions.
