London tourism rates plunge during Olympics
The London 2012 Olympics appears to be deterring tourists from the
capital's centre after warnings of travel chaos and overpriced hotel
rooms, according to key industry figures. Many businesses complain they
are being sidelined as tourists make a beeline for the Olympic Games and
avoid the capital's other attractions and shopping destinations, while
non-sports fans opt to stay at home or delay their trips.
In the run-up to the Olympics, commuters and tourists alike were
warned to avoid central London, with millions of athletes, support
staff, media and spectators descending on the capital for the greatest
show on earth. The Games have long been heralded as a key boost to the
recession-hit British economy. But tourist numbers have fallen
“dramatically” since the Games began, according to industry body the
European Tour Operators Association.“London has approximately 300,000
foreign and 800,000 domestic visitors every day in August.
These people have been told implicitly that they should stay away and
they have done so,” said ETOA chief executive Tom Jenkins. He argued
that many were simply following official travel advice from Transport
for London, which runs the capital's roads and railways. “The numbers
are currently dramatically down on last year. How far down will be
determined by how long Transport for London maintains the 'don't come
into London' campaign,” added Jenkins.
“But they have been replaced by approximately 500,000 Games ticket
holders, many of whom are Londoners, all of whom are here because
they've come to watch sport.
“They are not necessarily interested in London as a tourist
destination. They are not here to shop, sightsee or dine out,” he said.
Steve McNamara, general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers
Association, agreed that too many tourists have heeded the official
warnings, leading him to compare central London streets to a “ghost
town”.
“Our business is down by about 20-40 percent depending on the time of
day,” McNamara said.
“Normally about 90 percent of our customers are Londoners but they've
all left the city and haven't been replaced by tourists.
“I don't know where all these tourists are or how they're getting
about, but London is like a ghost town.” Many holidaymakers are
meanwhile delaying their trips to London until September, following the
end of the Olympics and Paralympics.
AFP
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