Effects of Swine Flu on Tourism

Swine Flu has had an impact on the tourism industry worldwide. Apart from the originating country, Mexico, the tourism industry has also been hit in other countries of the world. Swine Flu has been identified as a pandemic with the World Health Organisation (WHO) confirming it to be in alert level Phase 5, i.e. it is spreading rapidly by way of person-to-person contact. Effects of swine flu on tourism were made worse by the travel restrictions advised by WHO and other health authorities.

Mexico and USA were the two countries most hit in their travel industry than the rest of the world. Repercussions were also felt in Australia since any bottleneck to airlines is most disadvantageous to Australia as it is far away from the most countries of the northern hemisphere. In Mexico, hotels, airlines and tourist attractions like art galleries, museums, theatres and cinemas also suffered from losses. Business travel was also affected after the outbreak of swine flu. The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) of USA published a survey which stated that 61% of business travellers cancelled their trips to Mexico as result of the pandemic.

The hotel owners, tour operators and those involved in travel industry of USA suffered due to the outbreak of swine flu in Mexico. The effect of swine flu pandemic was estimated to have an impact on 90% of the airline industry in the USA as international visitors as well as domestic travellers were apprehensive. Bear in mind that many tour operators in USA do brisk business due to several beach resorts of Mexico.

Indian tourism industry may also be adversely affected if Swine Flu hits the country in the tourism peak period starting from October.

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