Post 2008 Olympics: Has The Spotlight Left China And Beijing For Good Or Will There Be A Continuing Impact On Tourism And The Economy As A Result?

Abstract

The enormous investment by China in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing has paid dividends in terms of lavish world attention that was directed at Beijing and China during the summer of 2008.   It has been scarcely three decades since China’s economy was opened to the point where China is on the threshold of becoming the world’s third-largest economy.  Travel and tourism can certainly continue to positively impact the economy of this country.  As for tourists, China has much to offer and is quickly catching up with the rest of the world; cities such as Beijing and Shanghi in the eastern part of the country call attention to the success of the government’s economic development in that area.   Rapid development of infrastructure in those cities is on par or has rivaled development in many other large metropolitan cities located throughout the world.  Yet much of the western part of the country still provides unparalleled access to exotic cultures, beautiful landscapes, and tranquil scenery.  Increasing numbers of tourists from the rest of the world seem anxious to experience China, before it changes.   The world has been witness to rapid economic growth and the Chinese government is focusing on making tourism an important developmental strategy.  This paper will attempt to identify the problems relating to China’s emergence from its mainly agricultural society to the point where it is today and will consider the boost in interest that was created as a result of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.