THE WORLD'S PLAYGROUND

Theme parks are sprouting up across Asia, and more Singaporeans are designing holidays around these regional attractions

- Sarah Stanley

In 2024, Hong Kong Disneyland achieved a record-breaking year, with an all-time high of 7.7 million visitors.

(PHOTO: HONG KONG DISNEYLAND)

Amid the screams from topsy-turvy rides, the giddy squeals from visitors eager to get close to their favourite characters and the saccharine smell of popcorn in the air, a resurgence in theme park travel is taking shape.

Globally, theme parks have gained popularity among post-pandemic travellers, with many operators upgrading to meet growing demand. Particularly in the Asia-Pacific (Apac) region, these parks are sprouting up like mushrooms.

In China, Legoland Shanghai Resort opened in July 2025 as the world's largest Legoland, featuring eight themed areas and more than 75 rides.

More recently, the highly anticipated PokePark Kanto opened in Tokyo on Feb 5. It is the world's first permanent Pokemon theme park, stretching over 2.6ha.

And Paramount Theme Park Bali, a collaboration between an Indonesian development company and Paramount Pictures - the American film production conglomerate behind major blockbuster series Transformers and Star Trek - is slated to open in 2026.

Also on the cards is the prospect of Southeast Asia's first Disneyland. In January, Thailand's deputy prime minister and transport minister said the country is exploring the possibility of building a globally recognised theme park - specifically naming Disneyland, according to Thai news outlet The Nation.

With the pandemic having reshaped people's relationship with travel, more are choosing experiences that feel meaningful or aligned with their personal interests, rather than defaulting to mass-market, cookie-cutter itineraries.

Industry players who spoke to The Straits Times say this is one of the main drivers behind the rising interest in theme park travel.