Back in 2008, China made it more difficult for foreigners to enter for the Olympics...... put off many foreigners from coming to see the Games. China's attempts to discourage foreign backpackers and the less well-heeled tourists backfired badly. .......A great opportunity to make billions for the country had been lost!

I still stand by the above. It's not that the country doesn't get many tourists annually. I never said that it doesn't. I have said it could have had even more foreign visitors that year if it hadn't have made more hoops for them to jump through. That's the reality!

It's all very well having ID checks, so long as the country practising it doesn't overdo it. Russia is one country that certainly does so. Its foreign tourists are constantly being asked for their passports by railway officials and bus station staff, among others such as police on the beat. I'm sure that there are many foreigners who choose not to visit Russia for that reason, and who can blame them?
Back in 2008, China made it more difficult for foreigners to enter for the Olympics. Hotel reservations had to be made in advance was one of the inconveniences that put off many foreigners from coming to see the Games. China's attempts to discourage foreign backpackers and the less well-heeled tourists backfired badly. The stadia were oftentimes half empty, as were a lot of hotels! A great opportunity to make billions for the country had been lost!