MINNESOTA WELCOMES THE WORLD: Building the Statewide Visitor Experience for Expo 2031

Building Minnesota’s Welcome to the World /

Expo 2031 is Convening Tourism Leaders Across the State

September 23, 2026

A global event begins with a local welcome.

But for Expo 2031 Minnesota USA, that welcome will extend far beyond the Expo site.

Today, Expo 2031 is beginning a new conversation with Minnesota’s tourism industry including Explore Minnesota, destination marketing organizations, convention and visitors bureaus and regional tourism leaders about how the state can prepare together for 2031.

The opportunity is larger than driving attendance to a six-month event.

It is about using Expo 2031 as a platform to introduce visitors to Minnesota.

International and domestic guests who travel to the Expo may also discover communities throughout the state: public gardens, natural landscapes, cultural destinations, local businesses, hotels, restaurants, events and distinctly Minnesota experiences.

Expo 2031 is therefore developing a statewide tourism gateway strategy.

Potential gateways could connect visitors with communities across Minnesota through horticulture-centered destinations, visitor information, local programming, transportation connections and curated experiences.

The goal is to create a visitor journey that does not begin and end at the Expo entrance.

A family coming to Expo 2031 might spend time in Minneapolis or Saint Paul, visit a garden or lake destination, explore Greater Minnesota and then arrive in Lakeville for the Expo.

A horticulture professional arriving internationally might combine Expo programming with industry tours, research institutions, farms or commercial meetings.

A visitor interested in food might experience Minnesota agriculture through destinations and producers around the state.

Technology will help connect those experiences.

Expo 2031's developing 360-degree visitor platform with Official Experience Partner Tixr is intended to create a single digital pathway through which visitors can discover Expo programming alongside participating Minnesota attractions and experiences.

The initial tourism collaboration is intended to be accessible: destination partners can identify an experience representing their community and begin building their place within the broader Expo visitor ecosystem.

This Minnesota-first collaboration also helps prepare the foundation for broader national and international tourism promotion as Expo 2031 advances toward 2031.

The opportunity for Minnesota is not simply to host visitors.

It is to invite them to explore.

One Expo.

Hundreds of Minnesota experiences.

One statewide welcome to the world.