Construction Delayed, Ticket Sales at 20% of Target… Osaka Expo: “Where We Are Now,” Nine Months to Go

Frankly speaking, tickets have not sold at all. According to data published on the official website of the Osaka-Kansai Expo, sales were approximately 3.2 million tickets as of July 12. Since the association’s sales target is 14 million tickets, only about 20% of the tickets have been sold.

There are many reasons for this, but the worst was the decision to sell only electronic tickets online. The reason is that not a few people from the generation that remembers the last Expo held in 1970 will be at the venue, and electronic tickets are a hurdle for them, so they have not been able to buy tickets successfully. This time, tickets must also be reserved for the dates of entry to the venue, and even which pavilions will be visited must be decided in advance. This has definitely had a negative impact on ticket sales,” said an Osaka City official.

In the first place, why are tickets being sold under a system that requires complete reservations? An Osaka City official expresses his anguish.

It is because the transportation network is fragile. If we were to make the event free and receive far more visitors than expected, we would not be able to cope with the situation. There are not enough shuttle buses and not enough drivers. And yet there is a proposal to invite elementary and junior high school students in Osaka City to the Expo for free. …… It might be a good experience for the children, but even transporting the students would be a struggle.”

Will they be able to make it to the event without incident? …… The day of the event is getting closer and closer.