Artur Lima highlights success of Azorean presence at Expo Osaka 2025 - Communication

Vice-Presidência do Governo Regional

The Vice-President of the Regional Government stated yesterday that the Azores' presence at Expo Osaka 2025 "was a success, not only for the way its visitors welcomed the Region but also for the enormous potential this event represented in terms of attracting new sources of funding and promoting more specialised and high-quality tourism."

After a festive start, the Azorean participation won over the thousands of visitors who came to the Portugal Pavilion every day.

According to the government official, "the natural and cultural wealth of the archipelago aroused tremendous curiosity, placing the Azores in the spotlight at this World Expo."

During the visit, the Vice-President of the Regional Government also pointed out that "the Azores have demonstrated here their ability to assert themselves in the world, promoting our culture and showing that we are a destination of excellence and world-class quality."

On the second day, Artur Lima visited the stands of Portuguese-speaking countries such as Timor, Cape Verde, and São Tomé and Príncipe, and also met with Bernardo Amaral, Director of the Portuguese Pavilion, and Joana Gaspar, Portugal's Deputy Commissioner for Expo Osaka 2025.

The Pavilion saw moments of extraordinary dynamism. The afternoon tastings of Azorean products filled the exhibition hall, offering the public an authentic sensory experience.

The "viola da terra" (traditional Azorean guitar) was one of the main attractions, especially during the musical performances by Luís Gil Bettencourt and Maria Bettencourt, who quickly drew visitors into the traditional sounds of the Region.

The third day confirmed the enthusiastic participation trend. One of the highlights took place on the balcony of the Portugal Pavilion, where Japanese musician Tumi, with a Portuguese guitar, joined Luís Gil Bettencourt and the "viola da terra" to perform "A Casa da Mariquinhas" at sunset. This was an unprecedented experience that symbolised the connection between cultures.

The Azores' presence continued until yesterday, August 17, the last of the four days on which the region was represented at Expo Osaka 2025 before thousands of visitors from around the world.

Summing up the participation, Artur Lima emphasised: "We are taking a decisive step towards establishing the Azores as a modern region, capable of attracting investment and visitors, and seeking authentic and quality experiences. This presence at Expo Osaka is a calling card that opens doors to the future."