International and Chinese visitors to the Pacific Pavilion at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai surpassed expectations with the entry of Kevin Chen of China's Guangdong Province this week as the 3rd million visitor.

Caught by surprise with university mate Lulu Zhou, the pair enjoyed their summer break from university in Canada to visit the Expo 2010's Pacific Pavilion.

They did not know their visit would win them a visit to the Pacific region.

The South Pacific Tourism Organization said in a statement on Thursday that the winning return tickets to Fiji compliments of Air Pacific, stunned the students who were lost for words when informed of their win at the door of the Pavilion.

"This is such a surprise -- we came to Expo for a break and we now will be visiting the Pacific from this visit -- thank you very much everyone," said the quietly spoken Kevin who together with Lulu are economics students at the West Ontario University.

The winners were handed their lucky envelope from Air Pacific by the membership manager at South Pacific Tourism Organization, Rusila Drekeni, who is currently based at the Pacific Pavilion.

Ilisoni Vuidreketi, South Pacific Tourism Organization's CEO, said:"It is pleasing to note the increasing number of visitors interested in the Pacific as an exotic destination.

"We hope these initiatives to promote the Pacific in the emerging markets like China and India will encourage more visitors to call in at the Pavilion and eventually plan a visit down to the South Pacific," said Vuidreketi.

Fourteen Pacific island countries are currently participating under the Pacific Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo 2010.

The event ends on Oct. 30, 2010.

(Xinhua News Agency July 22, 2010)