(ANSA) - Florence, December 3 - Chinese buyers are set to come back for more Milan Expo 2015 tickets, having already snapped up one million tickets for next year's World Fair, Culture Minister Dario Franceschini said Wednesday. "The Chinese government agency that is handling Expo has already bought one million tickets and it is about to buy a second batch," Franceschini said of the event, which will run from May to October next year under the banner, Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life. "There is enormous attention (on Expo) and it's a great opportunity for Italy to modernise, investing in sustainable, quality tourism and digitalisation, as tourism is online now.
    "So it's a really great opportunity".
    Franceschini said the event, whish is expected to attract around 20 million visitors in total, will provide a big lift for the recession-battered Italian economy.
    "I expect it to give a big contribution to economic growth," he said.
    "In the midst of the crisis, tourism is holding up, above all international tourism. 2015 will be a very important year for our country". Franceschini added, however, that Milan Expo's potential was not being give its due in its homeland.
    "You are underestimating Expo and we all are," the minister told reporters.
    "The international attention (on it) is enormous".