Chinese officials have been predicting a crunch in reservations as a result of a forecasted 500,000 visitors for the Olympics, but it just doesn’t seem to be materializing.

So far, only about 77% of capacity at Beijing’s five-star hotels are booked, and even less for 4, 3, and 2-star hotels.

Some speculate that this is a result of China’s crackdown on visa processing, holding up the process and preventing students from entering in fear that they are coming only to ignite protests during the games.

Prices aren’t helping either. For all hotels, prices have gone up 2.6 to more than 3.6 times higher than they were a year ago.

This year so many things have happened in China, Zhang Huiguang, the director of Beijing’s Tourism Bureau, said. But I can assure you that Chinese authorities can guarantee the safety of the tourists, of the city and of the games. Beijingers will enthusiastically welcome foreign tourists.

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