A Briggs Passport & Visa Expeditors

Recent Article from the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) Newsletter:

U.S. adds new requirement for inbound foreign travelers
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff plans to announce a new program today that will require foreign travelers who aren’t required to obtain visas to register with the DHS at least three days before they arrive in the U.S. The program is intended to close security holes in the current system. The program becomes mandatory in January 2009.  Wall Street Journal, The (6/3), USA TODAY (6/2), News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.), The/Associated Press (6/2)

Director of Beijing’s Tourism Bureau Zhang Huiguang says the crunch that was predicted doesn’t seem to be happening.

She said that about 500,000 foreigners were expected for the games, a figure Beijing officials have long been predicting.

She said only 77% of capacity at Beijing’s five-star hotels have been booked during the Aug. 8-24 Olympic Games, and the four-star hotel rate is only 44%. And it’s even lower for three- and two-stars.

One reason could be China’s crack down on visa procedures, targeting students and others on short-term stays who might be activists intent on protesting during the Olympics.