London's key investment and tourism body is bracing itself for multi-million pound 'displacement' effect from hosting the 2012 Olympic Games.
Economists from Oxford Economics predict that London will lose £375million from tourism as visitors will delay plans to visit the city until the 2010 Olympics.
They also claim some global visitors are reluctant to come to London before the Olympics due to fears of construction works, particularly on the tube and rail lines, interfering with their trips.
Well I can't say I blame them for not coming to London sooner. Every weekend the tube is a mess with line closures and suspensions, station closures or unbearably slow services. Oxford Street, a huge tourist attraction for those visiting London, is broken up for Crossrail building works at every other corner.
And all this for the Olympics which should be bringing an influx of visitors and money into the capital? All I can see is disruption, and now a loss of tourism in the run up to it. Let's hope it's worth it in the end.
Photo: Ben Sutherland (Flickr)
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