Tough Visa Rules Threaten to Slash Olympic Tourism

Heightened visa restrictions in China have shrunk tourism ahead of the Beijing Olympics, the New York Times reports. Numbers of foreign visitors to Beijing fell 14% last month when government officials tightened the rules to bolster security.

“Business is so bleak,” said one hotel worker. “Our occupancy rate has dropped by 40%." Beijing had expected the Olympics to bring in $4.5 billion, but now that’s looking like wishful thinking, economists say.