Visa limits undermine Beijing's tourism hopes

This is a little bit ironic... wonder how this will end up?


http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/06/20/asia/visa.php


An excerpt:

"The problem, it seems, is that with the Olympics less than two months away, China has been restricting foreign visitors from entering the country in the hope of guarding against terrorist threats or unruly visitors who might plot to disrupt the Games, which begin Aug. 8.

The government appears to be approving fewer tourist visas.

The measures, combined with the tragic news about the powerful earthquake in Sichuan Province last month, have already sapped tourism in China and cast a pall over Beijing during what was supposed to be a busy and jubilant tourist season leading up to the Olympics.

Still, because things are looking so bad now, for a wide range of hotels, many economists are beginning to doubt whether Beijing will get the kind of windfall it was hoping for during the Games, which analysts had once forecast would bring 500,000 foreign visitors and an extra $4.5 billion in revenue to the city this summer.

Instead, in the weeks leading up to the Olympics, Beijing hotels are struggling to find guests; some large tourist agencies have closed for the summer; people traveling here for seminars and conferences are canceling.

Residents are also complaining that heightened security measures could spoil what was expected to be Beijing's coming out party."

Hmmmm.... Let's host the Olympics... and grant FEWER tourist visas!! Should be a great success!