Tonga will be among 155 countries and regions confirmed to participate at the 2025 Osaka World Expo.

In June, Viliami Takau, CEO of the Ministry of Tourism (Commissioner for Tonga’s booth) and Simata Palu, Planning, Development and Investment Manager of the Tonga Tourism Authority attended the International Planning Meetings (IPM) 2023 at the Hyatt Regency in Osaka, Japan.

About 200 participants from 94 countries attended the meeting, which provided information on the support and logistics leading up to the World Expo.

On 7 June, the delegates visited Yumeshima Island - site of the Expo 2025, followed by an excursion to various locations in the Osaka-Kensai region.

Around 28 million visitors are expected to visit the Expo site.

The Expo’s subthemes are divided into three categories:

1. Connecting lives,
2. Saving lives
3. Empowering lives.

All transactions for merchandise and goods sold being will use a touchless system and a digital market online for e-commerce.

The Association of the World Expo will provide some support to developing countries including Tonga.

The 2025 Osaka World Expo is the 6th World Expo hosted by Japan.

In the next few months, Tonga Tourism will liaise with relevant stakeholders on how to maximize Tonga’s participation at the 2025 Osaka World Expo.