Shanghai by nightby PierrickBlons via FlickrRich Brubaker of AllroadsleadtoChina returns from a visit to Starbucks in Shanghai and realizes that the visa restrictions are hitting a critical mass in terms of the numbers of foreigners in China. Brubaker did not think the F-, Z-, X-visas would cause harm to the Chinese economy, but sees that the restrictions on tourists are getting very serious now.
A quick read through Shanghaiist, China Briefing, and China Herald will provide some background and examples, but a recent trip to the CITIC Starbucks in Shanghai was all I needed. Unlike the typical line than used to force me to considering walking the 200 meters to the next Starbucks… the line was only 2-3 deep… and unlike a typical day where I would have to experience that akward hovering to find out which seat was coming up next… there were plenty of cushy chairs waiting for me… It was odd, and it is something I am beginning to see more and more.
More importantly than a trip to Starbucks though, I am beginning to hear more and more that business people are having “visa problems”, that events in Shanghai are being canceled due to security, that conferences are being rescheduled, and so on.
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