By Javier Picazo Feliu
Madrid, Jan 22 (EFE).- Japan is finalizing preparations for the April inauguration of Expo Osaka 2025, a global event it hopes will be among the most technological in history, as the country looks to balance its record number of 2024 visitors with the challenge of alleviating mass tourism.
“Yeah, I believe so,” Japan National Tourism Organization executive vicepresident Koji Takahashi told EFE when asked recently if this event would be among the best and most technological ever seen. “This time, AI – Artificial Intelligence – and robots or flying vehicles, or the latest technology, will be displayed from all over the world.”
The exposition is expected to attract about 28 million visitors from Apr. 13 to Oct. 13 and will revolve around the “Grand Ring,” a circular 2 kilometer-long construction in which most of the event’s attractions will be located.
“The symbol of the expo is a very big building (…) I think that it’s a must see,” said Takahashi, who added that he is planning six months in advance with music, gastronomic and cultural events in the pavilions of the nearly 160 participating countries.
Less than three months before the opening, the construction of some pavilions is still underway and, so far, 7.5 million tickets have been sold, less than in other previous events.
The vicepresident said preparations are a little behind schedule, but were increasing from January or February, adding that the imminent publication of the guide for outside Japan would increase ticket sales.
Osaka 2025 comes after a year in which Japan has ed a record 37 million foreign tourists, an influx due to a weakened yen and the reopening of many air routes after the Covid-19 pandemic. These figures leave an unprecedented expenditure of more than JPY8 trillion (about $51.4 billion.)
Takahashi said the aim was for tourists in Japan – which aims to reach 60 million foreign visitors by 2030 – to move beyond visiting large cities such as Kyoto, Osaka or Tokyo.
Overtourism has led to measures such as tourism tax and neighborhood crown control in places such as the geisha district in Kyoto or at strategic viewpoints to Mount Fuji.
“It is a tough target, but we have to achieve the target by improving the infrastructure and also we have to manage the workforce shortage in the transportation or accommodation industry – restaurants,” he said.
Measures have already been taken for Osaka 2025, including the construction of a subway to the expo on the island of Yumeshima. In Kyoto, an exclusive tourist bus has been opened that only goes to tourist sites to decongest day-to-day buses.
Aside from the Expo itself, Takahashi said he recommends Osaka’s local food, especially takoyaki – octopus-filled balls – visiting Kyoto, rural gastronomy, a bullet train trip and above all lauded the Japanese people’s kindness.
“They are very kind and friendly, so maybe they do not speak English, but they are very helpful,” he said. EFE
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