What affect China Inbound Travel Industry 2008?

What affect China Inbound Travel Industry in year 2008 when Olympic  is taking place in Beijing?

At earlier time of year 2008 when Olympic will take place in Beijing China, most people in travel business were expecting a great increase of foreign travelers to China. Many travel suppliers, hotels and airline companies increased their prices for the BIG harvest to come. But then the travel industry experienced a 10-30 percent decrease for the first half of the year, and they are now expecting 50% decrease during July and August. Hopefully there will be no decrease during Sep and Oct which are the peak season for international tourists visiting China.

What are the reasons do you think caused the great decrease of international tourists visiting China? Do you think that there will be no decrease in Sep and Oct? Your opinions are appreciated.

1.      People may think that it will very crowded and expensive when the Olympic Games will be in Beijing. Why not choose another place to go?

2.      Everything will be crowded and expensive in August when the game taking place there.

3.      Tibet was closed until July.

4.      Earthquake in Sichuan

5.      Hand-Foot-Mouth disease

6.      What else?

fuel price increase caused the rise of flight tickets

If people happen to have a holiday around the Olympic Games, they will change to visit another country instead of China. So they will not come to China this year or even in the following years.  Another reason is that the depreciation of  US$  that stops people come to China. International airfare seems  much expensive than before.