Indiantelevision.com Team

(14 August 2008 6:00 pm)

MUMBAI: The international tourists who have joined the more than 11,000 athletes from 204 participating National Olympic Committees in China for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games have had an immediate impact on the nation’s economy.

This includes nearly $10 million spent on Visa cards on the opening day of the Games. The money spent by tourists on their Visa credit, debit and prepaid cards on 8 August 2008 showed an increase of 11 per cent over last year (8 August 2007).

The Opening Day’s biggest Visa spenders were from US, followed by Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea and the UK. Visitors from these five locations accounted for more than half of all Visa card spend on 8 August 2008.

Not surprisingly, Visa cards were used primarily to pay for accommodation and to make retail purchases.

Visa Asia Pacific country manager, South Asia Santanu Mukherjee said, “China has almost spared no expense to welcome visitors to the Games. The message sent at the Opening Ceremony was loud and strong, drawing attention to the country’s rich history and culture through the most innovative, creative programme that most of us have ever seen.

Visa has been a sponsor of the Olympic Games for 22 years, and is the exclusive card of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Visa and its client financial institutions in China also have installed more than 90,000 ATMs and signed up some 216,000 merchant locations or outlets throughout China to help prepare for the expected influx of international visitors this year and beyond.