The Beijing Olympics would bring 20 billion yuan (about US$2.7
billion) of business volume to the country's catering industry,
according to a report released by China Cuisine Association
(CCA).
"The Olympics would provide an unprecedented opportunity to the
catering business in Beijing, which normally stands at 24 billion
yuan a year," said Bian Jiang, CCA spokesman.
During the Games next year, China will receive some 280,000
athletes, referees and news reporters and other work staff from
more than 200 countries and regions, according to statistics with
the BOCOG (Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the
Olympiad).
The report said these people would enjoy diversified and high-
quality catering services. "Oriental food," said Bian, "such as
Chinese, Japanese and Korean food, would take up 30 percent of the
total dishes, a substantial increase from previous ten to 20
percent."
Besides, about five million overseas tourists and more than 120
million domestic travelers will visit Beijing in 2008 and seven
million spectators will watch the games on spot, according to
official statistics.
(Xinhua News Agency October 25, 2007)