Swiss national exhibition to accept Euro
The Euro has been named an official currency at Switzerland's national exhibition, Expo.02, which starts in May 2002.
The announcement that visitors to the exhibition would be able to use Euro banknotes at exhibition sites comes only weeks after Expo.02 organisers said the Swiss Franc would be the only accepted currency.
Laurent Paoliello, spokesman for the national exhibition, said Expo.02 “had to adapt” to the imminent arrival of the Euro, which is due to become the official currency in 12 European Union countries at the end of the month.
Paoliello said Expo.02 officials had made the decision after Swiss Federal Railways as well as the leading Swiss supermarket chains, Coop and Migros, announced they would accept payments made in Euros from January 1.
Change in francs
Visitors will be able to turn up on the day and purchase entrance tickets for the festival in Euros, though change will only be given in Swiss Francs.
“In principle, this will be the case for purchases made throughout the exhibition,” Paoliello said.
“But people will have to bring some Swiss francs with them for little purchases such as ice creams,” he added.
Organisers are hoping to attract around 4.8 million people to the 159-day exhibition, which will take place around the lakes of Neuchatel, Biel and Murten.
Around 1.5 million visitors are expected to come from outside Switzerland, and organisers believe most will be arriving from a country located within the Euro zone.
swissinfo with agencies
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