Shanghai announced a fixed entrance ticket price of 160 yuan
(US$21.1) for the upcoming 2010 World Expo yesterday. The ticket
price was reached after weighing up costs and foreign exchange
fluctuations. It may vary due to different factors, with around 158
countries and regions taking part in the exposition, adding to the
World Expo's tourism draw.
The 160-yuan ticket price is a yardstick with several discounts
organized for different age groups and visiting times, the
municipal government stated, with students, seniors and tour groups
to benefit from special prices, as was previously reported by the
Chinese News Service.
The World Exposition Shanghai China, the organization
responsible for the coming Expo, is seeking to begin sales right
after the close of the Beijing Olympics and overseas visitors will be
able to use official websites such as www.expo2010china.com or
World Expo partners around the world to purchase their tickets.
Shanghai natives greeted the pricing with mixed feelings, with
many thinking the price tag was reasonable for an international
event although others saw it as markedly expensive.
"I think the price is both reasonable and acceptable. And I
would like to have a look at the World Expo that is held in my
hometown," said Alex Li, editor in Jie Fang Daily's new
media.
Vanessa Wang, a local white-collar worker, disagreed: "The
exposition does not represent my profession. I can hardly accept a
ticket priced at 160 yuan just for architectural creativities. I
think a 50-percent discount might entice me to go."
Currently, about 158 countries and regions have confirmed their
attendance at the 184-day event with a total of 170 expected to
turn out before recruitment closes at the end of the year.
The city will receive about 70 million people for the World Expo
held from May 1 to October 31 which will come as a great challenge
for the city's management staff.
Before the curtain rises on the World Expo, Shanghai will
benefit from 400 more kilometers of subways and 60 highways
connecting Shanghai to its neighboring Jiangsu and Zhejiang
provinces.
(China.org.cn by Wu Jin, August 1, 2007)