Reviewing the effects of World Expos: Pulsar events for the eventful city?

Abstract

Expos, festivals and events have become increasingly important as tools of urban development in recent decades. The competitive drive to put cities on the global map has led many to adopt event-based strategies, including the creation of ‘eventful cities’, ‘festival cities’ and ‘event portfolios’. World Expos have taken on a particular significance as ‘pulsar events’ that can shape the host city through urban development, increased tourism and place branding. Each host city also uses the event in a different way, and gives it a unique flavour that tempers the eventual effects. This paper reviews the literature on World Expos and their effects, identifying themes including Place branding, Tourism flows, Resident attitudes and Architecture and urban development. It then analyses the experience of Barcelona, twofold Expo host and a ‘paradigmatic’ example of a city developed through mega events.