Arab News Japan

TOKYO: While there are many spectacular pavilions at the Osaka-Kansai Expo, Jordan has been a surprise success and now is able to claim the prize as the most popular pavilion at the event.

In the latest “Pavilion Satisfaction Ranking,” as reported in the publication “Osaka-Kansai Expo: Complete Strategy Edition” published by entertainment company Pia, Jordan has emerged as the top choice.

Pia has sold a million copies of its publications that help people get around the Expo and sought answers for its latest publication from those who had visited the event.

The Jordanian Pavilion has been praised for its tie-up with Tottori Prefecture and its “desert experience” area that reproduces the World Heritage Site Wadi Rum Reserve. The circular exhibition room reflects landscapes from Jordan and features 22 tons of red sand from Wadi Rum, which is also known as one of the locations for the movie “Star Wars.”

Visitors said the experience was like stepping barefoot into the desert. The pavilion was also praised for its high-quality souvenirs – an essential part of a visit to the Expo – and its spa.