These visits are planned months in advance. Diplomatic Clearance has to be sought as well as domestic arrangements. Mail, food, beer tokens, blah blah!!! I'm sure the door wasn't slammed in their faces as intimated. Diplomats and ambassadors would have been well aware of what was happening.
So I think this is the usual newsmen making more out of nothing. Not saying the visit wasn't allowed but not to the dramatic extent reported.