Pacific Pavilion welcomes 1 millionth visitor!

There was cause for great celebration at the Shanghai World Expo on Friday 4th June, as the Pacific Pavilion, home to Fiji and 14 other Pacific island nations, welcomed its one-millionth visitor!

The lucky person was young Wang Hao Di of No.4 Center Primary School, Hong Kou District, Shanghai, who was touring the Expo Park with his father. To celebrate the special occasion, the young boy was presented with gifts by countries in the Pacific Pavilion.

According to Fiji Pavilion Attendant Yolinda Chan, the atmosphere on the day was “electric” as the momentous occasion was celebrated at the centre of the Pacific Pavilion amidst hundreds of visitors. Visitor numbers to the Fiji Pod and the Pacific Pavilion have been increasing since the May 1st Opening, with the Pacific Pavilion expected to welcome its two-millionth visitor towards the end of this month. 




Above – Young Wang Hao Di, the one-millionth visitor to the Fiji Pod and Pacific Pavilion. He is flanked by his father and a representative from one of the Pacific island countries; Pacific Pavilion Director Mrs. Bernadette Rounds-Ganilau (far left), joined the celebrations as well.


While our Fiji Pod and the Pacific Pavilion at large have been welcoming visitors from all walks of life, with tremendous interest shown in our displayed products and unique culture, just last week the Pacific Pavilion played host to the biggest single group of VIPS in one week with the arrival of 600 special persons.

According to Yolinda, “we welcomed 200 mentally and physically challenged children accompanied by 2 minders each. They absolutely enjoyed the music and dancing of the Pacific hosts and couldn’t help but join in. We had another invitation from another group of school children with disabilities requesting to visit the Pavilion and more than 100 little ones arrived and received the same treatment as their classmates on Thursday – it seems that word is getting around that the Pacific Pavilion is a special place for special people!”

Sharing Yolinda’s enthusiasm is Fiji’s second Pavilion Attendant Catherine Zhang, who believes that the Expo has been a “happy reunion for all kinds of people from all over the world and offers a wonderful opportunity for cross-cultural dialogue. At the Fiji booth, we introduce our elegant tapa, exquisite handicrafts, and natural products to visitors from China and around the world. They are deeply absorbed by Fiji's rich and unique natural scenery and fascinated by the culture”.

Visitors to the Expo Site and Fiji Pod

		Number of Visitors to:
Month	Day	Expo Site	Fiji Pod
May	1-31	7,605,800	824,714
June	1	311,100	35,157
	2	369,000	59,035
	3	417,500	60,484
	4	437,000	64,623
	5	524,900	62,334
	6	417,400	45,048
	7	487,900	69,876
	8	510,900	58,303
	9	413,400	45,212
	10	391,300	35,418
	11	403,000	48,665
	12	424,600	47,150
	13	417,300	37,343
Total		10,640,400	1,166,681

* This article was published in Ministry of Information's fortnightly publication Fiji Focus (formerly known as New Dawn ) on 26th June 2010.