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Will the swine flu outbreak affect tourism?

Hostel Trends and News

Josh started this discussion 15 years 7 months ago

Countries race to contain an outbreak of swine flu:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g-G1kSAM9yaH00eBrXD2S5s-3ZhgD97QITP80

More than 100 people in Mexico are believed to have died from the new flu and more than 1,600 sickened, prompting widespread school closures and other measures.

Here is a map of the outbreak.

More maps here.

More about swine flu.

Will it affect tourism and hostels?

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nyrie

15 years

i guess it all depends on the hysteria that surrounds it. looking back at SARS and avian influenza, SARS really affected the tourism industry in south east asia, but the bird flu had much less of an effect. perhaps because it didnt really break out.
It also depends on what travel warnings and restrictions authorities place. Some places will be affected more.
Two of my friends are currently travelling through mexico. they said that they have been handed lots of face maskes and are staying away from mexico city, but they are pretty unfazed by the whole thing. i guess only time will tell.

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PatrickO`D

15 years

The Center for Disease Control has just issued a travel warning for Mexico. I have noticed that some of the cases are in Backpacker markets like Southern California, Vancouver and NYC. The airlines are going to allow travellers to change their reservations for flights to Mexico without charge. Have any GMs reported a drop in occupancy since last Thursday? I know swine flu is passed person to person so I wonder how willing people will be to sleep in a 10 bed dorm. Lets hope this does not get any worse!

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aboriginalhostel

15 years

Here's a prevention campaign video from 1976 (The first swine flu outbreak in the US):

http://www.indavideo.hu/video/1976-os_sertesinfluenza-oltas_propaganda

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Scotch Argus

15 years

Well I just got our first cancellation due to Swine Flu. And that was a booking for June. Not sure how serious the effects of the flu will be, but I'd imagine it'll be all about the world by then.

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gordo

15 years

oh, what a marvellous time to be planning a 10 week trip from costa rica to NYC!

meh, just another in the long list of doomsday virus's out there; the clocks ticking and soon the sky will fall! regular flu kills about 20,000 people a year, but a soon as 7 (yes, its only 7 deaths, not 150 according to the WHO) peopel die from a new bug, the worlds media hits panic stations!

the WHO is telling people not to panic and to keep traveling

1 May 2009 -- WHO is not recommending travel restrictions related to the outbreak of the Influenza A(H1N1) virus. Limiting travel and imposing travel restrictions would have very little effect on stopping the virus from spreading, but would be highly disruptive to the global community.

but hey, when you've got the media and governments all looking for another chance to scare the crap out of the population, what can you expect?

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santa klaus

15 years

regular flu kills about 20,000 people a year

Malaria kills 1000 every single day. 80% are children. Who cares about that?

but hey, when you've got the media and governments all looking for another chance to scare the crap out of the population, what can you expect?

Exactly.

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Josh Hostels

15 years

It's hard to tell what is going on. There's an article about it here:
Putting Swine Flu in Perspective - 7 Facts to Consider if You're Fearful About Swine Flu

We've had ~6 to 15 cases in Massachusetts, but it hasn't hit Western Mass yet.

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gordo

15 years

the WHO is stiill (rightly) claiming this is nowhere near the deadly epidemic the media is effectively clamoring for. its not even as bad as SARS and bird flu were predicted to be, but like i said, when the media and our governments are looking to scare us, what can you do? and hey, if you can bash on mexico, all the better right?

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santa klaus

15 years

Well I just got our first cancellation due to Swine Flu. And that was a booking for June. Not sure how serious the effects of the flu will be, but I'd imagine it'll be all about the world by then.

Woo-hoo. Same here. Also for June.

:confused:

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santa klaus

15 years

Apparently, it´s all Obama´s fault

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