Bangkok: Suan Dusit Arun rooftop park draws 951,000 visitors in first year - Get updated on what's happening in tourism!

More than 951,000 people visited Suan Dusit Arun during its first year, highlighting the appeal of publicly accessible green space in the heart of Bangkok. The 11,200-square-metre rooftop park at Dusit Central Park recorded an average of 2,621 unique visitors per day during the 12-month period following its opening.

The park celebrated its first anniversary on 3 September 2026 and has now released its first visitor, community and environmental performance data. Beyond visitor numbers, the initial findings provide an indication of how extensive rooftop landscaping can contribute to urban cooling, stormwater management, biodiversity and air quality in one of Southeast Asia's largest cities.

“When we conceived Suan Dusit Arun, we wanted it to become an active part of Bangkok’s daily life – a public landscape with a clear social and environmental purpose,” said Chanin Donavanik, Group CEO of Dusit International. “Welcoming more than 951,000 visitors in its first year shows how strongly people value accessible green spaces where they can exercise, learn, connect, and spend time in nature.”

Green space above Bangkok's business district

Suan Dusit Arun is the largest public rooftop park in Bangkok's central business district. Overlooking Lumpini Park, it forms the landscaped centrepiece of the wider Dusit Central Park development.

The park connects the Dusit Thani Bangkok hotel, Central Park Offices, Central Park shopping centre and a 69-storey residential tower comprising Dusit Residences and Dusit Parkside.

Around 98% of its layered landscape is dedicated to green space. A total of 184 plant varieties grow there, including 48 Thai species. The planting combines native shade trees, flowering species and plants selected to cope with Bangkok's climate.

Nine tree species belong to threatened categories on the IUCN Red List, including two classified as Critically Endangered, two as Endangered and five as Vulnerable. Other plantings reflect Thai cultural traditions, while species including mangrove apple and queen's crape myrtle provide resources for pollinators.

Initial measurements show a two-degree temperature difference

The first environmental measurements offer an indication of the park's potential effect on its immediate surroundings. Monitoring carried out on 13 and 14 March 2026 recorded an air temperature of 31°C within Suan Dusit Arun, compared with 33°C outside the project area.

Suspended particulate matter concentrations were approximately 35% lower inside the park during the same monitoring period. Dusit stresses that assessment of the environmental performance is continuing, meaning the figures represent an initial snapshot rather than a long-term evaluation.

Water management is another component of the design. Harvested or recycled water meets approximately 25% of irrigation requirements. According to project estimates, the planted roof also reduces stormwater runoff entering Bangkok's drainage system by between 30% and 50% compared with a conventional hard-surfaced roof.

“The initial data from Suan Dusit Arun indicates the potential of thoughtful design and responsible operation to improve everyday urban life,” said Donavanik. “We will continue to monitor the park’s performance and report its contribution with care and transparency.”

More than 9,500 people join organised activities

The park is not intended solely as a landscaped retreat. During its first year it hosted 43 recreational, wellness and educational events and visits involving more than 9,500 participants.

Activities ranged from aerobics, Pilates and city runs to live music, Children's Day events, design talks and visits by schools and universities. Partners included Silpakorn University, SCG Packaging and the Thai Red Cross as well as schools, community groups and commercial organisations.

Waste reduction has also become part of the operation. Through SCG Packaging's “Old for New” initiative, around 100 kilograms of cardboard generated each month is separated for recycling. Event organisers are encouraged to limit disposable plastics and use reusable or recyclable materials where possible.

Bangkok Climate Action Week brings Tree Walk to the park

Suan Dusit Arun will also participate in Bangkok Climate Action Week 2026. On 9 October, Dusit International and the Big Trees Foundation will stage a guided Tree Walk examining the role of urban trees in cooling, air quality, biodiversity and public well-being.

Landscape architect Touchapon Soontrajarn and professional arborists will lead the programme from 9:00 to 11:30. Participation is limited to 30 people and costs THB 250, with proceeds going to the Big Trees Foundation to support urban tree conservation.

For Dusit International, the park also represents an extension of hospitality beyond the traditional boundaries of a hotel. Its first-year figures suggest that the rooftop has become not only an architectural feature of Dusit Central Park, but a heavily used public space in central Bangkok.

Image Credit: © AI generated illustration with material courtesy of Dusit International