Opinion | Games brings economic respite but London pines for tourists
City escapes recession after nine months but taxi drivers see growth as only short term
The London Olympics may well have helped Britain come out of recession but it does not seem to have helped attract tourists.
In a recent trip to London, White Collar talked to a number of taxi drivers to find out what was going on in the city.
One, who has been driving a taxi for more than 20 years, said that while he had ferried many more tourists this year compared with previous years, it had nothing to do with the Olympic Games.
What attracted them were the many activities in June to celebrate Queen Elizabeth's 60th year on the throne. In fact, he had experienced the quietest period of his two-decade driving career when London hosted the Games in the summer.
"You could never imagine how quiet it was in the heart of the City of London. There was nobody walking. The city was empty," he said.
"There were a few tourists coming for the Games but they preferred to take the Underground rather than the taxi."
The driver said he believed tourists avoided London during the Olympics for fear of soaring hotel prices. Many also considered watching the Games at home - a better and cheaper option.