Izmir secured 33 votes from the International Exhibitions Bureau in the first round and lost with 36 votes against Dubai and Yekaterinburg in the final round.
Dubai's that got the final round with 116 votes will host the World Expo 2020.
Culture and Tourism Minister Ömer Çelik who visited the team that won the EXPO also congratulated United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed.
Çelik said that even thought Turkey lost its chance to host EXPO, the health complex planned to be constructed in Inciraltı was still the target.
