Amid flickering hopes of a much talked about boom in customers ahead of the Olympic Games next month, the move is an attempt to undercut the competitors at the last moment.
China is expecting up to only 4.5 lakh overseas tourists in August, including the 1.2 lakh for the sporting event in comparison to the 4.2 lakh who visited China last August.
Olympic room prices in the average three-star hotel, compared with those quoted in May and June, are now reduced from USD 104 (Rs 4,420 approx) to USD 58.6 Rs 2,470 approx) per night.
In a four-star hotel, the rates have dropped from from USD 220 (Rs 9,300 approx) to USD 117 (Rs 4,980 approx) per night, China's largest online travel service website Crip.com said.
"The reasons could be multiple and the price cut during the Olympics is now a trend," Wu Jiaoli, a press officer with NASDAQ-listed website said.
The three-star Beijing Fuhao Hotel has reduced the room rates by 20 per cent during the Olympics, despite the Olympic occupancy rate being 70 per cent.
"We want to attract more guests during the Olympics at a time when people are about to finalise their travel agenda," said Tian Ye, Sales Manager of the hotel.
