Released on: September 11, 2008, 5:40 am

Press Release Author: Cielo

Industry: Entertainment

Press Release Summary: The Beijing Olympics failed to meet expectations as a tourist
event. It was estimated that 500,000 of these two million visitors would be coming
from overseas. However, during the Games itself, these numbers did not materialize.


Press Release Body: In the months, even years leading to the Beijing Olympics,
tourism experts have forecasted that there would be approximately two million
tourists who would be flocking to China’s capital city in the two weeks of the
Games. It was estimated that 500,000 of these two million visitors would be coming
from overseas. However, during the Games itself, these numbers did not materialize.
The Beijing Olympics failed to meet expectations as a tourist event.

That the expected numbers did not show up in Beijing during the Olympics can be
glimpsed easily from the average occupancy rates of hotels in the city at the time.
For four-star hotels, only around 50% of the rooms were occupied. The rate for
five-star hotels, on the other hand, was pegged at 70%. Ironically, the occupancy
rate was down by almost 20% when compared to the rates during the same period in
2007.

The lack of visitors to the Beijing Olympics was also very much visible during the
games itself. It was reported by the Beijing authorities that all 6.8 million
tickets issued for the games were sold out. However, at the course of the games,
empty seats were highly noticeable.

There were a few factors that led to the dismal turnout of tourists to the Beijing
Olympics. One of these factors was economic. With the rising oil prices and
inflation being felt globally, and with the credit crunch and the subprime mortgage
crisis causing Americans to tighten their belts, not a lot of foreign visitors were
inclined to fly to Beijing to watch the Olympics. The same is true for the Chinese
themselves. With inflation on the rise, many opted to stay at home and watch the
Games from television instead of going to Beijing.

The one factor to which tourism experts were attributing to the failure of the
Beijing Olympics to become a tourism success is the fact that the Chinese government
suddenly tightened visa requirements and security measures as early as April 2008.

Months before the opening ceremonies of the Games, China required foreign visitors
to have proof of their accommodation and return ticket to their country of origin to
be able to get a Chinese visa for the Olympics. This gave off the impression that
China is not welcoming foreign visitors for the Games, a notion that was reinforced
by the fact that nearly 80% of the tickets to the Games were reserved for Chinese
spectators.

Security was also tightened in Beijing in the months prior to the Games and during
the games itself. Fears of terrorism and political protests put the police on high
alert. Venues for entertainment, such as karaoke bars, clubs, dives and even some
restaurants were forced to close early at night. Hotels were also required to
submit lists of people booked in their hotels for security checks.

Other reasons cited for the low tourist turnout in Beijing for the Olympics were the
Sichuan earthquake as well as the protests surrounding the movement for Tibetan
independence. The protests in particular disrupted the torch relays. Sympathizers
of the Tibetan cause, including actor and chairman of the International Campaign for
Tibet, Richard Gere, also called for boycotts to the Beijing Olympics.

The Beijing Olympics had all it took to be a commercial tourism success as it was
expected to be. The fact that it failed can only be attributed to unforeseen causes
and to the fault of the Chinese government itself.

Marcos Redondo 22, Edificio Maldivas local 1-1
Phone Number: +44 02081331529
Website: http://www.go-cielo.com/
Email: marketing@go-cielo.com

Web Site: http://www.go-cielo.com/

Contact Details: Marcos Redondo 22, Edificio Maldivas local 1-1
Phone Number: +44 02081331529
Website: http://www.go-cielo.com/
Email: marketing@go-cielo.com