London Olympics Economic Boost Failing to Materialise

Ericparke

ash28 wrote: »

A large part of the London problem has been caused by our media (read and heard around the world) and political classes, they have been telling us for months that London wouldn't be able to cope with the traffic, the extra underground footfall, people were advised to change the times they would normally travel, use a different route, work from home, take holidays etc etc. Is it any wonder people have stayed away in droves.

And those Olympic tourists who are here seem to be staying in the east end and not venturing very much further.

Sales in the West End stores are down about a third compared to normal years, theatre bookings are about the same, the big tourist attractions are the same.

, as you put it because there is hardly anyone there when compared to a normal year. And of course TfL have been running a "stay out of London" campaign.

I read that in a normal summer there are around 300k foreign visitors a day in the capital, the current numbers are about 100k.

Even Weymouth in Dorset has been hit - with signs as far away as Southampton and Bristol telling people of expected delays - and people have stayed away - I'm not sure how much is down to the Olympics and how much is down to the poor weather. The town had been told to expect an extra 30k visitors and they haven't materialised. I have been a regular day visitor to Weymouth for years - we go diving from there - but not this summer.

I read that Windsor (rowing) was the same.

I was on the A1 before the opening ceremony and there were signs telling you to expect delays going to Lee Valley.

So over hyped expectations from the media, government and Logoc, dire warnings about the ability to travel, not only around London but other parts of the country too. Hoteliers trying to profiteer, retailers selling expensive Olympic tat. And people have stayed away.

Most cities that have hosted the olympics don't actually come out of it very well - Atlanta, Sydney, Athens and I'm not sure about Beijing. The one that stands out has having done well out them is Barcelona.

Before 1992 Barcelona was a relatively unknown city, it didn't have the profile of an Athens, Sydney or London - although people had been going to the Costas for years, Barcelona and it's attractions, it's architecture and culture were relatively unknown to most people, and came as a very pleasant surprise to a lot of people - Barcelona was suddenly on the tourist map. And then we had the arrival of low cost travel which meant Barcelona became a big weekend destination. People don't got to Barcelona to visit the Olympic stadium (entrance is free if you are interested) - the only stadium most people want to see is the football stadium and the entrance to that is around 22euros.

London doesn't have any of those advantages, it is one of the most visited and well known cities in the world.

Then you have the tv coverage and the likelihood of people seeing London on the tele and deciding - I must go and visit. Most sports fans have a particularly narrow focus (in my experience) and won't be interested in anything other than sport - one event finishes and they will move on to the next one.

Olympic tourists are different to your normal tourist, they are there because they are interested in sport and their spending habits will be totally different from someone coming to London to "do the sights". Then you have the thousands of press and officials - their spending habits will be different from a tourist too.

It's alright in a couple of months London will be history and all eyes will be on Rio.

And we will be left to pick up the bill.

The tv companies and adds would be going banners... At least some people are making money

wymondham

Looks like not many people going on train to London from my parts, keep getting 50% off emails from the local train company....

I've notice things have been very quiet also!

Graham_Devon

I can't help thinking the tube drivers, with their Olympics bonuses are grinning from ear to ear

Commentators are suggesting less people are using transport services (and everything else) than at any point known! ...(excluding times surrounding terror alerts).

That's some feat!

Apparently one hotel has now reduced their price to 75% of their normal room price and is offering BOGOF. Bit of a difference to pricing them 500-800% higher than normal room price just a couple of weeks ago!

While nothing has gone wrong with the olympics itself, which is fantastic....it appears to have been disasterous for the city in economic terms. Far far FAR too much hype and optimism, completely ruined the day, and at the end of the day....cost people dearly.

Puddleglum

We are here in London and so far have seen nothing of the massive crowds even going through London Bridge. Traffic seems to be flowing ok.

Things were hectic leaving Wembley last night after the match. Nearly 71000 people leaving the stadium at once. Police and transport staff were excellent though and we got straight onto a train. No delays with security either.

Come on down - the party is great!

Sapphire

I can't believe the negativity of many of the posters on this thread!

I'm not particularly interested in sport, but at the level of the Olympics find some of it fascinating.

Did no one watch Bradley Wiggins's cycle race today and admire him for his achievements? Did no one see the female rowers who won the gold so beautifully? The wonderful American swimmer who is up to his 19th gold medal? The 15-year-old Lithuanian girl (trained in Plymouth by a Brit) who won the swimming race last night against the big-wigs?

I watched the male cyclists whizz past in Richmond Park on Saturday. There were many people there, and a great, happy atmosphere. Even the police, who made a variety of noises with their sirens as they rode past, waved to the crowds and were cheered on.

Some of you 'whinging poms' seem terminally depressed…lighten up and try and enjoy life a bit.

pete90210

I think all the new infastructure will boost the east end on london, plus all the new sporting facilities should boost our medal prospects in future games. Its all long term stuff though I can't see any short term benefit

ash28

Sapphire wrote: »

I can't believe the negativity of many of the posters on this thread!

I'm not particularly interested in sport, but at the level of the Olympics find some of it fascinating.

Did no one watch Bradley Wiggins's cycle race today and admire him for his achievements? Did no one see the female rowers who won the gold so beautifully? The wonderful American swimmer who is up to his 19th gold medal? The 15-year-old Lithuanian girl (trained in Plymouth by a Brit) who won the swimming race last night against the big-wigs?

I watched the male cyclists whizz past in Richmond Park on Saturday. There were many people there, and a great, happy atmosphere. Even the police, who made a variety of noises with their sirens as they rode past, waved to the crowds and were cheered on.

Some of you 'whinging poms' seem terminally depressed…lighten up and try and enjoy life a bit.

I thought the thread was about why the predicted and anticipated economic boom for London had failed to materialise. And why for many the summer of 2012 is turning into one of the worst trading periods on record. Not about the Games themselves.

I have been watching the Games along with millions of others on tv. If the authorities had not gone to such lengths to warn people off visiting London during the Games perhaps more people would have lined the streets for some of the free events.

The government, Logoc and Transport for London have all been guilty of warning people off and as someone who doesn't live in London it's worked. It probably has for hundreds of thousands around the world too.

And have you forgotten to post on here, you have to be miserable, despicable, despairing, mocking, petulant, bad tempered, sense of humour failure, cynical, bitter, pessimistic, angry, sarcastic, unsociable, sceptical, disparaging, perverse.......Have I missed anything??

vivatifosi

I went into London yesterday to watch the beach volleyball. Thoughts:

* Trains into London were packed, mostly with people going to the Olympics but some tourists too, this was after the rush hour.
* People shopping on Piccadilly seemed much lighter than usual, unless it was in a sports shop. By the time I got to Lillywhites it was mobbed with people buying Olympics tops.
* Saw a couple of open top tour buses go past. I'd say they were probably as full as normal but not more so. Half full on a weekday morning is what I would expect to see, especially as it was a bit drizzly.
* Speaking to people who went to the Olympic Park, they said the shops at Westfield are absolutely packed.

FTBFun

I was near Selfridges between events yesterday, and it was pretty busy (although the West End often is!).

Unfortunately I did see a tourist get pickpocketed - the little sod ran off before anyone could get him

Sapphire

ash28 wrote: »

I thought the thread was about why the predicted and anticipated economic boom for London had failed to materialise. And why for many the summer of 2012 is turning into one of the worst trading periods on record. Not about the Games themselves.

I have been watching the Games along with millions of others on tv. If the authorities had not gone to such lengths to warn people off visiting London during the Games perhaps more people would have lined the streets for some of the free events.

The government, Logoc and Transport for London have all been guilty of warning people off and as someone who doesn't live in London it's worked. It probably has for hundreds of thousands around the world too.

And have you forgotten to post on here, you have to be miserable, despicable, despairing, mocking, petulant, bad tempered, sense of humour failure, cynical, bitter, pessimistic, angry, sarcastic, unsociable, sceptical, disparaging, perverse.......Have I missed anything??

I had to meet someone at Covent Garden last night and it was absolutely heaving with people – many of them foreigners who presumably spent money in the area. The restaurants and cafes were all choker-block full. Any more people and it would have been impossible to get about.

Likewise, I've been travelling into central London to work (not on the main lines that go to the Olympic Park), and public transport has been incredibly busy, again with many foreigners.

With regard to the open-air events, they were packed in my area – any more people and you would not have been able to see any of the action.

As for actually physically watching the Olympics in Stratford, although I would like to see the Olympic Park and stadium, I am enjoying watching the events on television.

The fact that a huge derelict, toxic site in the East End has been transformed into something that people can use must be a good thing and will be surely be of some benefit in the future.

Yes, and point made in your final para. is so true. :rotfl: