Finland's Tivoli Faces Closure After 138 Years Amid Economic Woes

Suomen Tivoli, a 138-year-old amusement park that has remained in the same family for its entire history, is on the brink of closure. The company, currently operating in Oulu, has had to cancel its planned move to Kajaani in early August due to financial constraints. "The jokes are starting to run out," stated CEO Lulu Sariola, reflecting the dire situation. Despite expectations for the Oulu location, customer numbers have been insufficient. Efforts to attract visitors, such as reducing weekday wristband prices to 30 euros from the usual 40 euros, provided only a slight improvement. Sariola attributes the low turnout to the public's limited disposable income, noting that even families with children, their primary demographic, are tightening their belts. "It feels like no matter what you do, people don't want to spend money. They just have so little money available," she said. The economic downturn, exacerbated by the energy crisis and inflation, has impacted the business significantly. Sariola mentioned that visitors are bringing their own food instead of purchasing from the park. The decision to skip the Kajaani visit is a cost-saving measure, as fuel expenses are high, and transporting 27 amusement rides is costly. The park also reduced its staffing for the current tour. Sariola indicated that if these measures are not enough, the next step would be to sell assets. She would prefer to sell her own caravan, purchased from Italy, rather than the rides, to keep the amusement park operational. The company's struggles began during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the subsequent global instability has prevented a full recovery. "We've been struggling ever since," Sariola said, adding that the bank is no longer willing to finance the business, making its future uncertain. "It's touch and go whether we can continue next spring."

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The jokes are starting to run out.