Beijing is pulling out all stops to welcome foreign tourists,
well ahead of next year's Olympics Games.
The country's largest inbound tourism service, China
International Travel Service (CITS), said yesterday that by August
next year, tourists will be able to get information and book tours
on its www.cits.com.cn website in six languages - English, French,
Spanish, Italian, German and Japanese.
It is also improving its online payment service for domestic
travel agencies.
"Walk-in tourists from home and abroad are the focus of our
business strategy for the Games. We plan to provide services on
multiple levels for them," said CITS Head Office president Yao
Yuecan at the opening of a travel fair in Kunming, Yunnan Province yesterday.
In addition to the multilingual website, the network includes a
24-hour hotline in the six foreign languages.
Xiong Yumei, deputy director of the Beijing tourism
administration, also gave his assurance that the number of hotel
rooms in the capital will be adequate to meet estimated demand.
There were initial worries that supply could not meet the
estimated 2.5 million spectators of the Games - of which 500,000
would be foreigners.
The survey found Beijing with 5,780 hotels and guesthouses in
September, which can provide 646,400 beds.
By the first half of next year, there will be 800 star hotels,
adding 50,000 beds.
Xiong said the abundant supply of rooms will ensure prices are
kept reasonable during the Games.
Airport services are also being improved. The Beijing Capital
International Airport said yesterday it will provide car rentals in
the new third terminal before the Games.
Other services in the pipeline include short-stay hotels,
wireless Internet and a cinema.
(China Daily November 3, 2007)