The number of foreign tourists drops by 20 per cent over last year. Many give up because of the difficulty in getting a visa or out of fear for a possible attack. Hotels in the capital see occupancy rate collapse; only five star hotels save the day.

Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) – The Olympics? A flop for China, at least for its hospitality industry. The overall hotel occupancy rate in Beijing on 7 August was lower than a year ago. The Games' effect on tourism has fallen well short of expectations by organisers and the government.

According to the Beijing Tourism Administration, the occupancy rate for hotels (except five stars) was much lower than expected despite cuts in prices for rooms and services.

The occupancy rate for four-star hotels was 60 per cent between 7 and 20 August, down from 69 per cent in the same period last year.

The occupancy rate for hotels with three stars or lower was even worst, just 30 to 50 per cent.

Half empty hotels and lower than expected business were only party offset by five-star hotels whose occupancy rose from 69 per cent last year to 81 per cent this year.

Analysts said foreigners might have shied away because of visa restrictions and bad publicity about China. Tight security measures in the weeks preceding the Games and a negative press campaign scared many visitors away as well.

“Overkill visa restrictions, bad publicity about China's human rights records, the Tibet issue, environmental problems and fear of possible terrorist attacks all have contributed to the unexpected low turnout of visitors,” said Hu Xingdou of the Beijing Institute of Technology.

Many domestic visitors were kept away by tight security restrictions since they needed permits to get to the capital for the Games.

Beijing has 22,300 five-star hotel rooms and 34,500 four-star hotel rooms traditionally reserved for foreign visitors. In the run-up to the Games, tourist numbers were down by 20 per cent from the same time last year, the administration said.

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