World Cup tourism expectations falling short as hotels report weaker‑than‑expected bookings
Survey finds many hotels in New York and New Jersey seeing typical summer demand instead of expected World Cup boom.
A new survey suggests the anticipated tourism boom tied to the World Cup may not be materializing as many hotels expected.
According to the survey, 80% of hotels say bookings so far are falling short of the hype surrounding the international soccer tournament.
In New Jersey and New York, hotel operators say the summer travel season is currently looking fairly typical rather than seeing a major surge in visitors.
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Hotels say several factors may be discouraging international travelers from making trips to the region. Those concerns include difficulties obtaining visas, a sudden rise in airfare prices, and higher local taxes and fees in host communities.
Some industry representatives also point to a strong U.S. dollar and lingering worries about entry procedures as additional barriers keeping overseas visitors at home.
