Olympic Tourism and the Beijing Olympic Summer Games 2008

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• The development of tourist packages in context of the Olympic Games
• Characteristics of the market of Olympic tour operators, its clients and products
• The Olympic Games and tourism
• The market of Olympic tour operators
• Size, structure and participants
• Market characteristics
• The Olympic tourist
• Number of Olympic tourists
• Types and characteristics of Olympic tourists
• The Olympic product
• Concluding comments
• The framework of Olympic Games and its influence on the product development
• Influence of the IOC and OCOG
• The product development before the host city selection
• The phases of product development after the host city selection
• Influence of the Olympic host city and country
• Influence of the business environment
• Concluding comments
• Influencing factors on the development of tourist packages for the Olympic Games
• Organization of tickets
• Organization of accommodation
• Organization of transportation
• Organization of sightseeing
• Concluding comments
• The development of tourist packages in the context of the Olympic Games in Beijing
• Influencing factors on the development of tourist packages for the Beijing Olympics
• Research aim
• Research method
• Overview of the research results
• Concluding comments
• Crucial factors influencing the development of tickets
• Amount, pricing and design
• IOC and BOCOG regulations
• Concluding comments
• Crucial factors influencing the development of accommodation
• Characteristics of the hotel market in Beijing
• The quantitative and qualitative hotel market situation
• Characteristics of the Chinese hotel industry
• Reliability and the legal and contractual system in China
• Olympic inexperience and insufficient quality standards
• The tour operator's reaction
• Concluding comments
• Crucial factors influencing the development of transportation
• Characteristics of the city of Beijing
• Language and freedom of action
• Transportation capacities and Olympic competition schedule
• The tour operator's reaction
• Concluding comments
• Crucial factors influencing the development of sightseeing
• Characteristics of Beijing and China
• Chinese tourism policies regarding sightseeing
• The tour operator's reaction
• Concluding comments
• The Olympics in Beijing – a special challenge?!
• RESULTS AND PERSPECTIVES

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This Bachelor thesis examines the development of tourist packages for the Beijing Olympic Summer Games 2008 from a tour operator's perspective. It aims to identify and analyze crucial factors influencing the development of these packages. The research is conducted through a combination of literature review, interviews with European tour operators, and analysis of the existing tourist packages offered for the Beijing Olympics.

• The specific challenges and opportunities faced by tour operators in developing Olympic tourist packages
• The impact of various factors, such as ticket availability, accommodation options, transportation infrastructure, and sightseeing opportunities on package development
• The role of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG), and the host city's characteristics in influencing the development of tourist packages
• The potential impact of the Beijing Olympics on the development of tourism in the host city and region
• The specific challenges related to the Chinese context, such as the legal and contractual system, language barriers, and cultural differences

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The first chapter sets the stage for the study by discussing the characteristics of the market for Olympic tour operators, their clients, and their products. It outlines the history of the Olympic Games' influence on tourism, the development of the Olympic tour operator market, and the different types of Olympic tourists. The chapter also touches upon the complexities of developing Olympic products and the role of the IOC and the host city in this process.

The second chapter delves deeper into the framework of the Olympic Games and its influence on product development. It examines the roles of the IOC and the OCOG in shaping the product development process, both before and after the selection of the host city. This chapter also explores the influence of the host city and country, as well as the wider business environment, on the development of Olympic tourist packages.

Chapter three then shifts focus to the specific factors influencing the development of tourist packages for the Olympic Games, specifically examining the organization of tickets, accommodation, transportation, and sightseeing. It discusses the challenges associated with each of these aspects and explores the strategies employed by tour operators to overcome these challenges.

The fourth chapter examines the application of these influencing factors in the context of the Beijing Olympics. It discusses the research aim and method employed to assess the specific challenges of developing tourist packages for this event, including the availability of tickets, the characteristics of the hotel market in Beijing, the challenges of navigating the Chinese legal system, and the unique logistical challenges of transportation in the city.

The fifth chapter focuses on the specific challenges related to the development of accommodation for the Beijing Olympics, including the quantitative and qualitative hotel market situation, the characteristics of the Chinese hotel industry, and the tour operators' strategies to navigate these challenges.

Chapter six explores the factors influencing the development of transportation for the Beijing Olympics. It discusses the characteristics of the city, language barriers, transportation capacities, and the tour operators' responses to these challenges.

Finally, chapter seven examines the factors influencing the development of sightseeing for the Beijing Olympics. It discusses the unique characteristics of Beijing and China, the Chinese tourism policies regarding sightseeing, and the tour operators' strategies for navigating these challenges.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This study focuses on the development of tourist packages for the Olympic Games, specifically the Beijing Olympic Summer Games 2008. Key themes include the influence of the IOC and the OCOG, the challenges of managing tickets, accommodation, transportation, and sightseeing, the impact of the host city's characteristics, and the unique considerations of the Chinese context. The research draws upon data from interviews with European tour operators and an analysis of existing tourist packages.