EXPO 2010
February 2, 2010
Everywhere we go in Shanghai, there are advertisements for Expo. While we were here, we have been asking what it is, why it's here, how long it lasts, why Shanghai, etc.
I've been meaning to Google it - and tonight I finally remembered. So, I'll share!
Today, Expo is the modern version of the World's Fair. It is held randomly (sometimes 2 years between Expos, sometimes 10 years between them). I don't remember ever hearing anything about it at home and wasn't sure if it had been hosted in the States since the infamous 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, or the 1939 New York City World's Fair.
The easiest thing I could related Expo to is Epcot Center in Orlando. Each country that participates builds an exposition building to promote their country's image and accomplishments. At the 200 Expo, each exposition display was averaged at $13M. Some countries didn't think this was worth the investment and they wouldn't get back a good return on their investment. However, Dutch research estimates $35M investment and the exposure they received at the Hanover Expo (Germany) in 2000 brought back over $350M in tourism revenue.
EXPO 2010 in Shanghai will start in May, and run for 6 months. This should bring great tourism revenues into the city, and also great exposure to a city that has been hugely developed in the last 10 years.
So, where has Expo been held in the last 35 years you may ask?? (I certainly did ...)
Who knew we actually hosted it three times in a row!!! I don't remember hearing ANYTHING about this while I was growing up! Interesting stuff!
I've been meaning to Google it - and tonight I finally remembered. So, I'll share!
Today, Expo is the modern version of the World's Fair. It is held randomly (sometimes 2 years between Expos, sometimes 10 years between them). I don't remember ever hearing anything about it at home and wasn't sure if it had been hosted in the States since the infamous 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, or the 1939 New York City World's Fair.
The easiest thing I could related Expo to is Epcot Center in Orlando. Each country that participates builds an exposition building to promote their country's image and accomplishments. At the 200 Expo, each exposition display was averaged at $13M. Some countries didn't think this was worth the investment and they wouldn't get back a good return on their investment. However, Dutch research estimates $35M investment and the exposure they received at the Hanover Expo (Germany) in 2000 brought back over $350M in tourism revenue.
EXPO 2010 in Shanghai will start in May, and run for 6 months. This should bring great tourism revenues into the city, and also great exposure to a city that has been hugely developed in the last 10 years.
So, where has Expo been held in the last 35 years you may ask?? (I certainly did ...)
- 1974 Spokane (United States)
- 1982 Knoxville (United States)
- 1984 New Orleans (United States)
- 1985 Tsukuba (Japan)
- 1986 Vancouver (Canada)
- 1988 Brisbane (Australia)
- 1990 Osaka International Gardens and Greenery Exposition (Japan)
- 1992 Seville (Spain)
- 1993 Daejeon (South Korea)
- 1998 Lisbon (Portugal)
- 1999 Kunming International Garden Festival (China)
- 2000 Hannover (Germany)
- 2005 Aichi (Japan)
- 2008 Zaragoza (Spain)
- 2010 Shanghai (China)
- 2012 Yeosu (South Korea)
- 2015 Milan (Italy)
- 2016 Antalya (Turkey)
- Expo 2017 yet to be designated
- Expo 2020 yet to be designated
Who knew we actually hosted it three times in a row!!! I don't remember hearing ANYTHING about this while I was growing up! Interesting stuff!
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