There will probably be only about a 1,000 in China.

 

Many have been put off by high hotel prices and a combination of other adverse factors have meant the expected flood of UK visitors to China for the Olympics has turned into more of a slow stream.

 

The Chinese Embassy in London said that tourist visa applications to China by Britons have been no more busy this summer than normal.

 

UK tour operators reported that there had been no increase in China numbers this summer.

 

It is thought that the hotel rates, the Tibet disturbances, the Chinese earthquake, the economic downturn and China's record on human rights have all contributed to the disappointing tourist numbers.

 

Frances Tuke, spokeswoman for UK travel organisation Abta, also suggested that the fact that London will host the 2012 Games may have been a factor as well.

 

She said: "It could be that Britons know they will have a chance to see the Olympics on their own doorstep in just four years' time and they may not have been prepared to travel a long way to the Far East for these Games.

 

"It may be the same with the soccer World Cup, with people who were happy to travel to Germany for the 2006 championships being not so keen to go to South Africa for the 2010 event."

 

Those planning to go to the Beijing Games would have had to buy a £30 visitor visa from the Chinese Embassy in London.

 

A spokesman for the Embassy's visa section said: "We've been busy, but no more busy than we would normally be at this time of the year."

 

British Airways said its daily services to Beijing were fairly full but that it was not putting on any extra flights.