Olympics Actually DECREASES Tourism

The Chicago Reader reports on a study done by the European Tour Operators Association, that, despite claims by Olympic organizers, international tourism to host cities actually DECREASES after hosting the games.

According to the ETOA, in fact, “there is no strong link” between hosting any sporting event and growth in tourism. “The audiences regularly cited for such events as the Olympics are exaggerated [and] attendees at the Games displace normal visitors and scare tourists away. Both Sydney and Barcelona had ‘excellent’ Olympic Games, but their tourism industries have not significantly benefited.”