Shanghai hotels hope the 2010 World Expo will bring business back to acceptable levels.
The Expo, which will be held next May to October, should attract more than 70 million visitors. However, that is based on high expectations of a world turnaround on the financial scene. It may be those figures will prove to be overly optimistic.
Dao Shuming, director of Shanghai municipal tourism administration states there were 325 star-rated hotels in Shanghai at the end of 2008, but the number will increase to 500 before the Expo. He said, ‘These star-rated hotels along with the city’s 4,000 non-star-rated hotels will be able to provide 500,000 beds by 2010.’ .
China View reports Shanghai’s hotel industry has been hit by the global recession and has seen visitor numbers slump for more than half a year.Organizers believe the Expo will be an amazing success and although at present turnover is poor, Shanghai may still need the new hotels to be able to meet demand for rooms during the Expo.
Hong Hao, director of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination said, ‘There is still an estimated accommodation gap on certain peak days when we could have 800,000 Expo tourists in a single day.’
You must log in to post a comment.