The London 2012 Olympics has been preventing tourists from the capital's centre after warnings of travel chaos and overpriced hotel rooms, according to key industry figures.

Many businesses complained they were being sidelined as tourists made a beeline for the Olympic Games and avoided the capital's other attractions and shopping destinations. The non-sports fans opted to stay at home or delay their trips.

In the run-up to the Olympics, commuters and tourists alike were warned to avoid central London, with millions of athletes, support staff, media and spectators descending on the capital for the greatest show on earth as per a report in ET.

The Games have long been seen as a key boost to the recession-hit British economy. But tourist numbers have fallen significantly since the Games began, according to industry body the European Tour Operators Association.

"London has approximately 300,000 foreign and 800,000 domestic visitors every day in August. These people have been told implicitly that they should stay away and they have done so," said ETOA chief executive Tom Jenkins.

He argued that many were simply following official travel advice from Transport for London, which runs the capital's roads and railways.

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