South Korean Yeosu is hosting a World Expo from May 12 to August 12 which has so far attracted a small number of visitors due to the multiplication of events of the same type in Asia.
SEOUL- After the enormous success of the Shanghai World Expo in 2010 and its over 73 million visitors – a record attendance – and the participation of 250 countries and international organizations, it was already know in South Korea that to repeat such numbers would be an impossible task. World Exhibition in South Korea’s southern coastal city of Yeosu has in fact modest dimensions. The expo is organised around the thematic “Living Oceans and Shores: Resource Diversity and Sustainability”, which highlights ways to preserve, nurture and protect resources and life from seas and oceans. Some 104 countries and 10 international organizations and numerous companies are participating into the exhibition. They all particularly, emphasize sustainable resource development and creative maritime activities.
From May 21 to 24, the Expo also hosted the world’s largest international conference in the field of marine technology and science with around 500 marine technology/science specialists from 35 countries participate to the conference.
According to first accountings, the total number of visitors have only reached until the first week of June 1.03 million, a far lower number than originally expected. If the current trend continues, the visitor turnout is expected to reach about five million, only about half of what South Korea had hoped to attract. Originally, Yeosu World Expo organizers were targeting over 12 million domestic and international visitors, most of them from China, Japan and Taiwan. The number was already revised downwards to 8 million a few weeks later to now be down to only five million. Despite its location on the southern shores of South Korea –some 460 km away from Seoul- and a rich historical and cultural heritage, lack of international promotion coupled to a lack of awareness about the destination itself are taking their toll on the notoriety of the event. The organizers hope now that Korean vacationers and school students during summer holidays will permit to attract more visitors over the weeks to come.
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
