Post-Olympics Travel

Recent debate on the economic growth of China queried whether it would suffer a slump following the Olympics, as has occurred in other past host nations. According to an official report, the occupancy rate of Beijing's hotels during the Olympics was 81% of five-star hotels and 60% of four-star hotels, which far less than the expectations. The thought was that most people would prefer to watch the Olympics at home and so avoid the cost of travel. In addition, the tightened entry and visa policies introduced deterred a number of potential foreign travelers. However, the result of a recent questionnaire indicates that about 70% of Chinese still have travel plans following the Olympics and optimism prevails regarding further development of China's tourism industry. Consequently, the golden tourism season during September and October is anticipated as usual.

The hottest post Olympics tour destination will be Beijing, where the public facilities and services meet international standards. As a great number of travelers will continue to flow into the city, the recommendation is to make advance travel plans and reservations to avoid disappointment. It is possible for travelers to book preferred hotels and restaurants quite easily. The other six co-host cities also receive considerable attention thanks to the event. Most of the hotels in Beijing have cut back their rates sharply but on average rates show a little rise. The airways also supply more affordable discount tickets again. More and more foreign travelers prefer to shuttle between Chinese cities by trains, experiencing China and Chinese in a unique profile. In order to ensure the Olympics and the Paralympics Games security, all public transportation, hotels and shopping centers have strengthened security precautions. Therefore, travelers still need to pay attention to the news reports and observe the travel procedures, which are required from time to time.