olympics - Skift

Chinese Tourism Fell Short at the Winter Olympics

Mason Hinsdale, Jing Travel

Tensions between China and South Korea were never going to be good for attendance at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. It sounds like the turnout was far worse than expected.

4 months ago

South Korea Hopes Olympics Will Spur Return of Chinese Tourists

Jiyeun Lee, Bloomberg

South Korea doesn't want just any Chinese tourists – it wants high spenders who can help bring the country's tourism economy out of a slump.

4 months ago

North Korea Hopes Ski Training Event Will Spur Tourism

Sam Kim, Bloomberg

Kim Jong Un may miss the cash flow from tours into North Korea, but Olympic buzz won't eclipse the fact that tourists are advised to draft a will and say their goodbyes.

5 months ago

Destinations Leverage 2018 Events to Lure More Visitors

Beth J. Harpaz, Associated Press

Cities like Paris and Shanghai always inspire wanderlust. But several other places, such as Malta, which is holding a year-long cultural festival., claim defining reasons for travelers to visit them in 2018.

6 months ago

Utah Ski Resorts Worry Drunk Driver Laws Will Turn Off Visitors

Brady McCombs, Associated Press

Yes, tourism and powering local economies through food and beverage are important, but shouldn't public safety be just as important, if not more so? Perhaps having the strictest DUI laws in the country isn't such a terrible thing, especially when you consider that ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft can transport intoxicated drivers.

7 months ago

South Korea Tourism Slump Raises Fears About Upcoming Winter Olympics

Jiyeun Lee, Bloomberg

Threats from North Korea and prolonged conflict with China are keeping tourism down in South Korea as preparations continue for the Winter Olympics next year. With domestic interest lacking as well, will the Games be a failure for the host country?

8 months ago

Paris is Debating Investments in Infrastructure Projects for Tourists Versus Locals

Ania Nussbaum and Helene Fouquet, Bloomberg

Many large cities around the world are facing predicaments that are similar to what Paris is dealing with. Governments like the idea of building projects that will bring in more tourist spending, sometimes at the expense of those who elected them to office.

8 months ago

South Korea Is Having Trouble Selling Tickets for the Next Olympics in 2018

Kim Tong-Hyung, Associated Press

It's a shame that political circumstances threaten to undermine the upcoming Winter Games.

9 months ago

Paris and Los Angeles on Track to Host the Next Summer Olympics Games

Michael R. Blood, Associated Press

It is hip to be cynical about the Olympics because recent host cities have mismanaged spending. Yet we believe officials when they say Los Angeles doesn't need to construct new permanent venues and can keep costs in line.

11 months ago

Los Angeles Bid to Host 2024 Olympics Based on Already Having the Venues in Place

Beth Harris and Michael R. Blood, Associated Press

Hosting the Olympics is seductive, but like winning a new car on Oprah, there are massive strings attached. Long-term benefits for destination marketers seem murky at best.

1 year ago

World Health Organization Says Japan’s Bad Smoking Habit Could Hurt Olympics Tourism

Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press

Japan should certainly take steps to restrict smoking ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics but tourists still flock to notorious smoking destinations such as Paris despite its pervasive smoking culture.