SHANGHAI, June 14 -- THE estimated 70 million visitors coming to World Expo 2010 will bring 145 billion yuan (US$19.1 billion) with them to spend in Shanghai during the event, equal to nearly half the city's total retail sales in 2006, Jiefang Daily reported.

Shanghai Economic Commission and Shanghai Commercial Economic Research Institute gave the estimation yesterday to an international business forum held in Shanghai.

It is estimated that domestic tourists, who will make up 95 percent of the total number of visitors, will spend 1,850 yuan per person, or 123.02 billion yuan in all, during the six-month Expo period.

Foreign visitors are expected to spend 6,361 yuan per person or 22.26 billion yuan in total.

Scheduled to run from May 1 to October 31, 2010, World Expo Shanghai aims to secure at least 200 participating countries by opening day, which will make it the largest ever held and well on the way to being the most "successful, extraordinary and unforgettable" World Expo in history.