Despite the recession and spending cuts, provincial councils spent tens of thousands of euros sending city officials to the World Expo show in Shanghai, according to local government magazine Binnenlands Bestuur.

For example, Utrecht province spent €44,398 sending seven officials to the event. The second biggest spender was Zuid-Holland which sent seven people to China for €25,250. Third on the list was Noord Holland. It spent €21.234 on a three-man delegation to the show.
The price difference is due to the methods of travel, the paper says. Utrecht and Noord-Holland officials went business class. But Zuid-Holland sent three people in business class and the rest in economy.
Friesland was the most economical. It sent two people economy class for €3,500, the magazine said.
Rotterdam was the biggest-spending city with a €43,700 Expo bill.