The Mainichi Shimbun answers some common questions readers may have about the expected economic impact of the 2025 Expo, set to open in Osaka in April.

Question: Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan will begin on April 13. How much will it improve the economy?

Answer: The economic impact varies considerably depending on the data used and the calculation methods, but the Asia Pacific Institute of Research (APIR), a private think tank, puts the figure at about 2.75 trillion yen (roughly $18.21 billion) nationwide.

Q: That's an impressive amount, isn't it?

A: Yes, but that figure is based on the premise that the Expo will receive 28.2 million visitors. The 2000 Hannover Expo in Germany saw some 18 million guests -- less than half of its target -- which resulted in a deficit. The 2005 Expo held in Aichi Prefecture had 22.05 million visitors. As of March 12, around 8.21 million tickets had been sold for the Osaka Expo against an advance sales target of 14 million, leading to concerns that the hurdle might be too high.

Q: It seems many people will stay overnight, right?

Resona Research Institute Co. has calculated that visitor spending during the Expo could reach 1 trillion yen ($6.64 billion), provided that there are enough hotel rooms to meet the demand of those heading to the exposition. The action plan drawn up by the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition estimates that some 90% of visitors will be domestic, with nearly 40% coming from outside western Japan's Kinki region, where Osaka is located. However, if there is a shortage of hotels, prices could skyrocket. This could result in people visiting on day trips instead or even giving up on attending altogether.

Q: I thought Osaka had plenty of hotels. Aren't there enough?

A: According to a 2024 survey by the Japan Tourism Agency, the occupancy rate of hotel and inn rooms in Osaka Prefecture was 75.8%, the second highest in the country after Tokyo. A further increase in inbound tourism is expected in 2025 and labor shortages are also an issue. Companies that will stage exhibits in the Expo pavilions are additionally hosting group training, and some hotels are reporting they are already fully booked from April onward. Families planning to visit during peak times should probably secure accommodation early.

(Answers by Tsuyoshi Kosaka, Osaka Business News Department)