Expo Benefits

Direct Economic Impact

Hosting an Expo requires a significant investment, but its economic impact is often much higher.​

We have conducted a study to estimate the direct economic impact, based on visitor spend in the host city while visiting the Expo solely.​

The following projected attendance, visitation and economic impact are based on average AIPH expo days and attendees across different expos, typically consisting of 30% local residents and 70% visitors. The split of international/domestic visitors will vary based on location and ease of access to nearby countries.​

Not included in this study are indirect economic benefits such as the creation of new jobs, delivering a positive economic impact across sectors; revenues from infrastructure use and increase of land cost, increased investment, growth of workforce skills – all the impacts creating a positive economic dynamics for decades after the Expo.

Average projected attendance, visitation and direct economic impact across different Expos

1 Assuming 1.3 average days attended. 2 100% in-scope day-trippers and 80% in-scope overnight visitors. 3 Estimated 2.65 average nights for overnight visitors. 4 Assuming 15% day-trippers, 85% overnight visitors; €90 daily spend per overnight visitor and €38 per day tripper.​

Case study: 2003 IGA, Rostock, Germany (A1)​

​Budget: € 88,2 m (state subsidies)​

Attendance, visitation and direct economic impact:​

The post-expo reports for 2003 IGA did not include all data required to undertake economic impact calculations. As such, assumptions from other global events have been used in relation to average visitor nights, daily spend, day trippers, overnight and in-scope visitors. ​

1 Assuming 1.3 average days attended. 2 100% in-scope day trippers and 80% in-scope overnight visitors. 3 Estimated 2.65 average nights for overnight visitors. 4 Assuming 15% day trippers, 85% overnight visitors; €100 daily spend per overnight visitor and €46 per day tripper.

Case study: 2010 Taipei International ​Flora Expo, Chinese Taipei (B)

Budget: € 283,8 m

Attendance, visitation and direct economic impact:

The post-expo reports for the 2010 Taipei IFE did not include all data required to undertake economic impact calculations. As such, assumptions from other global events have been used in relation to average visitor nights, daily spend, day trippers, overnight and in-scope visitors.

1 Assuming 1.3 average days attended. 2 100% in-scope day trippers and 80% in-scope overnight visitors. 3 Estimated 2.65 average nights for overnight visitors. 4 Assuming 15% day trippers, 85% overnight visitors; €78 daily spend per overnight visitor and €31 per day tripper.​

Sustainability

Sustainability is an integral element of AIPH Horticultural Expos and part of AIPH philosophy.

Expo planning and preparation requires the Expo organizer to think of the Expo legacy and find sustainable solutions for the further use of the Expo park, infrastructure and support of the created immaterial legacies.

These requirements are reflected in our Expo Regulations and supported by our Green City research. Through our Green City initiative, we promote the essential role of plants in creating vibrant urban areas in which people and businesses can thrive. Our environment, human wellbeing, social cohesion and economies are all improved by intelligently designed green space.

These developments support AIPH’s commitment to encourage the Expo organizers and contribute to the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.​

Amongst Sustainability impacts of AIPH Expos are:​

• Better access to green areas per capita​
• Increased water, air and soil quality​
• Protection of biodiversity and threatened species​
• Land regeneration​
• Increased number of protected sites​
• Catalysing climate action through hard and soft infrastructure​

Access to Green Areas​

AIPH expo sites increase the amount of green and public space, often becoming permanent green legacies for host cities. These new green areas enliven the lives of local residents and can attract new tourists from all over the world, often for many years after the AIPH expo is over. ​

Most AIPH expo hosts have proudly kept their expo sites as public parks, gardens or event venues for recreational use and future events. ​

Visiting former AIPH expo sites have become cultural attractions in many cities and have positively impacted people’s habit of participating in outdoor activities, increasing the overall liveability for all local residents. ​

In Hamamatsu, Japan, 2004 Pacific Flora Expo site became the Hamanako Garden Park, with a total area of 56 ha available to the public. It has significantly increased the population access to green areas in Shizuoka-Hamamatsu, the fifth prefecture of Japan by number of inhabitants (population in 2020 is 2,92 m people)​

Some of the host cities which have kept the Expo sites for recreational use:​

• 2018 World Flora Expo, Chinese Taipei: Houli Forest Park ​
• 2013 Garden of the Earth, Korea: Suncheon Bay National Garden​
• 2010 International Flora Expo, Chinese Taipei: Taipei Expo Park​
• 2004 Pacific Flora, Japan: Hamanako Garden Park​
• 2003 IGA, Germany: IGA Park​

Enhancing Reputation

AIPH Expos contribute to increasing the host city’s reputation and improving its image worldwide. While preparing an Expo, cities sharpen their own vision for the future to create compelling communications, a transformative effect for city reputation locally, in their country and internationally.​

The city of Suncheon, South Korea, became known as the city spreading the new values in Korea. Its Suncheonman park, making part of the 2013 Expo site, was recognized as the first National Garden in Korea; with 15 more parks across Korea now applying for this distinction. The 2013 Expo motivated progressive health policies, sustainability initiatives, species preservation and raised the city profile internationally.​

Given the Expos’ extensive visitation and international participation, they also attract businesses, foreign organizations, new citizens and investment in the long run as “the place to be”.

Some of the reported benefits include:​

• Promoted the city, region and country as eco-friendly and eco-conscious​
• Encouraged foreign trade and direct foreign investment​
• Increased numbers of international organizations established in Expo city and region​
• Facilitated diplomatic relationships and trade with other countries​
• Increased future hosting of international events

Diplomatic and Trade Relationships

Hosting AIPH horticultural Expos can help facilitate unique opportunities for increasing trade and building and strengthening diplomatic relationships with countries from around the world.

Previous host cities have reported their AIPH expos had participation from between 23 and 83 countries from all over the world, who all gathered for the Expo and fostered strong and long-lasting diplomatic and trade relationships.

Previous host cities have reported the Expo played an essential role in:​

• Boosting business and trade exports: Not only garden and horticultural products, but also products from other key industries.​
• Increasing interest from foreign horticultural groups: Promoting exchange of experiences, legacy plans, partnerships and collaboration.​
• Building and maintaining great relationships: Hosts have held meetings and donated Expo items to foreign governments in order to encourage positive diplomatic and trade relations.​
• Promoting the host city to other countries: To showcase their country’s attractiveness to invest as well as its key products and services​
• Celebrating important dates: commemorating national independence years, etc. The 2011 Expo in Thailand celebrated the birthdays of the King, Queen and Prince, and had participation from 31 countries. ​

Developing Cities

One of the primary requirements for a successful Expo project is its integration with the city and region and the positive impact it can have on city development, mobility, and land regeneration.

Previous expo hosts have reported the expo motivated afforestation and ecological initiatives, and their residents enjoy the new addition to their city.​

Xi’an 2011 Expo in China increased wetlands by 9.8%, 446 ha new afforestation area, +1933 ha forest land, 15% forest coverage rate.​

Benefits in Developing Cities reported by previous Expo organizers include:​

• Long-term investment in previously underdeveloped areas​
• New mobility solutions and infrastructure​
• Significantly increasing green space and lowering emissions​
• Making best use of disused, empty or degraded land​
• Enhanced quality of life for local residents​
• Increasing appeal as a tourist destination​
• Showcases key sustainability initiatives​
• Promoting a positive image worldwide

New Infrastructure

Large-scale events such as AIPH horticultural expos encourage investment in new infrastructure, which becomes a permanent addition to the city and improves quality of life for local residents. ​

• 2018 World Flora Expo, Chinese Taipei: The site was a model of urban development for the city as many areas are under development. 2018 Expo saved 2,486 tons of CO2 emissions by investing in electric buses which were kept and used regularly after the expo.​
• 2013 Garden of the Earth, Korea: Motivated construction of Ecograd Hotel Suncheon, a high-tech IT garden and eco-friendly energy facilities. The city implemented an innovative Carbon Level Monitoring System which reduced the city’s overall carbon levels.​
• 2010 International Flora Expo, Chinese Taipei: Flora Tunnel was created to connect Fine Art Park Area with Xinsheng Park, as well as pedestrian bridges to connect Yuanshan Park with the Fine Art Park Area. Dajia Blue Highway was also built specifically for the expo.​
• 2003 IGA, Germany: Facilitated construction of Warnow Tunnel, reconstruction of the main train station, the urban railway station Lutten Klein and improvements to residential areas nearby. 2003 IGA GmbH refurbished the ship ‘Dresden’, which is now one of the most popular attractions in the Shipbuilding and Maritime Museum Rostock.

Driving Tourism

Major events can become catalysts of tourism, according to OECD study which provides selected country approaches and guidance on: ​

• Aligning tourism and major events strategies to promote tourism growth ​
• Measuring the potential impacts of major events on the visitor economy​

​One of the benefits of hosting AIPH expos is the opportunity it creates to drive future visitation. The city will attract visitors who might not have come to the region otherwise, increasing their likelihood of visiting again in the future and recommending the destination to others. ​

AIPH Expos offer a special asset created to showcase beauty and creativity – the Expo park, which impacts greatly a visitor experience in a new destination. Appreciation for gardens and horticultural tourism is a growing trend worldwide, and ornamental horticulture attracts millions of visitors from all over the world to gardens and parks each year.​

In the UK alone, horticultural tourism has been increasing dramatically since 2014. In 2017, the sector accounted for £2.2 billion tourist spend, £2.9 billion GDP impact and 60,500 jobs. *

Previous Expo host cities have reported: ​

• Positively promoting the host region to potential visitors​
• Showcases to visitors everything the city has to offer ​
• Encourages future visitation by driving a positive experience​
• Using the expo site afterwards maintains the tourism boost as it can become a permanent tourist attraction ​
• Expo infrastructure can be used for future events

* Source: Oxford Economics – The economic impact of ornamental horticulture and landscaping in the UK – Oct 2018​

Case study: Suncheon 2013 Expo

The 2013 Expo site, Suncheon Bay National Garden, was visited by an average of  5 m people every year between 2015 and 2020.​

1st place in national assessment of summer vacation satisfaction, 2018​.
​
Annual benefit from Suncheonman National Garden Visitation is €193,4 m

Education and inspiration​

International Expos were envisioned to be source of inspiration and education for the world. ​

According to the historical BIE convention of 1928:

“An exhibition is a display which, whatever its title, has as its principal purpose the education of the public”.​

Even more so today are Horticultural Expos, with subjects they raise that affect our planet. The impact of AIPH Expos on citizen education, knowledge exchange, generation of ideas and development of a knowledge economy is huge particularly in:

• Reinforcing awareness of sustainability and environmental issues​
• Informing citizens on the use of plants and their benefits for their health and well-being​
• Promoting industrial progress in the field of horticulture and landscaping through an exchange of horticultural knowledge​
• Promoting innovation in the horticultural sector​
• Sharing ideas and cooperating internationally and across sectors​
• Inspiring community-led initiatives, social cohesion and a beautiful green legacy

Case study: Floriade Dialogue

In 2009 the Floriade 2012 started the Floriade Dialogue program.

The Floriade Dialogue is the knowledge exchange program and an international platform, bringing together international professionals within the field of science, business and government.

The Floriade 2022, Amsterdam-Almere, continues the Floriade Dialogue with the topics revolving around its central theme: ‘Growing Green Cities’, and its four subthemes: ‘Green, Food, Health or Energy’. One of the Expo subthemes becomes the leading theme for each Dialogue. The Dialogue programme consists of 5 editions a year. ​

Following the Floriade Dialogues and Floriade 2012, some countries took Greenport Venlo as an example in the development of their own food production. Knowledge exchange created by the Expo provided for new business opportunities and forms of cooperation for local companies, internationally.

​

Institutional Capacity Legacy​

Preparing, planning and hosting AIPH Expos brings together experts from different industries, often from outside the host city, to build together an institutional capacity that will deliver benefits before, during and after the Expo. ​

Planning for reuse of Expo site and its buildings, integrating clean and green infrastructure and developing future economic models are not the only legacy plans of each Expo. Long-term success for the city also comes from the institutional capacity legacy: expertise in mega event hosting, fundraising; improved strategy, communications and marketing, as well as political cohesion and experience in mega-projects handover.​

Organisers of Royal Flora Ratchaphruek, Thailand, started in 2006 with the A1 expo and continued for the second time in 2011 with the B category Expo. They increased their capability to organize a World-Class exhibition in Thailand, creating the world’s leading Tropical Horticultural Exhibition with a significant trading ground for agricultural technology and unique international plant specimens by promoting the potential of Thai garden plants.​

Organising the Deaflympics, in Taipei 2009, was an invaluable chance to begin a dialogue with the world of sport. An Horticultural Expo followed in 2010.​

The 2019 Expo project in Taichung was initiated by a mayor from a different political party than the current one, who successfully continued and delivered the project.