H1N1 warning

The World Tourism Organisation is advising the industry not to drop its guard over the H1N1 swine flu pandemic, warning that a second wave is on the way and the tourism sector needs to ensure that it is not left out of measures to safeguard travellers.

UNWTO warns: Prepare for second wave of flu pandemic
Northern hemisphere most at risk in coming months


Tourism lobby group calls for urgent government action
TTF concerned by the economic impact of declining international demand.


Garuda denies price fixing allegations
Watchdog has got it wrong, says Indonesian airline


Airline losses soar
Future path is likely to be volatile, warns IATA

Bus driver hands out mask in fear of outbreak

A bus operator based in Tuy Hoa city in Phu Yen province has made it compulsory for all staff and passengers travelling to and from HCM City to wear face masks against swine flu and distributes them free of cost.

Cuc Tu, which runs the largest fleet between HCM City and the capital of central Phu Yen province, distributes the activated carbon masks to passengers as soon as they get on board.

Nguyen Thi Kim Cuc, the fleet owner, explained: "If we hand out the masks at ticket booths, chances are that people will just drop them."

The masks cost her VND30 million (US$1,700) a month, she said, but fares remain unchanged and the company would continue to bear the cost until the epidemic was wiped out.

"We’re in a peak season now, with students returning to the city for the new school year, increasing the risk of infection," she said, noting that her fleet of 30 buses transport around 1,000 people a day.

"Passengers stay packed in a narrow air-conditioned space. So the risk is high."

The masks were made mandatory soon after the first swine-flu death was reported in Nha Trang City earlier this month, she said.

Her husband, Ho Tu, who also manages the business, said any staff member would have a day’s salary cut if found not wearing the mask while working.

So far, the province had reported no cases of infection.

But Tu said he was very concerned since if just one infection is found in a coach, the whole fleet would be prevented from operating and the staff would be quarantined.

"So we should not regret the money spent on masks, because it can save passengers from infection and our credibility from being damaged.

"If other transporters follow us, I think it’s good for all."

Nguyen Truong Ton, 52, who was travelling with his wife and young daughter, said he got used to wearing masks since he traveled to the city three times a month on business.

"At first, it’s very uncomfortable," he admitted.

Huynh Van Trung, a driver for Cuc Tu, said many people in Phu Yen were too afraid to go to the city because of the outbreak of A/H1N1 flu and the company had to find ways to reassure them.

"I don’t know who’s infected and who’s not, so I think I should wear it for safety," Vuong Thi Mien, 51, who did not once take off her mask during the trip to HCM City, said.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News

Mexico offering unheard-of deals-27 August, 2009

Plagued by swine flu and a reputation for drug violence, Mexico is fighting back with luxury properties offering unheard-of deals and even moderately priced hotels offering prices that practically scream “bargain.”


“Stick a pin on the map, and you can pay as little as half what you would have a year ago,” says The San Francisco Chronicle.


Deeper discounts are not uncommon in prime time winter and spring but they are now extending into the fall and even through the end of the year.


Some high level resorts are offering to match published rates at any other five-star hotel in Mexico or the Caribbean for a limited time.


Just a few examples:


 Esencia, one of the Riviera Maya's most sumptuous properties (typically $459 a night and up), is offering three nights for the price of two through Dec. 20 plus spa, restaurant and other resort credits, equal to the daily room rate, through Oct. 15.


 In Mazatlán, Pueblo Bonito's 35 percent "stimulus package" discount puts a family of four in a junior suite in the Golden Zone for $107 a night through December.


 Also in Mazatlan, visitors can also get four nights for the price of two (from $70) at the Melville Suites, a restored 19th century former nuns' school in the heart of the old city through Oct. 31.


 In Los Cabos, more than 30 hotels offer free nights, resort credits up to $350 per day, free room upgrades and meals, spa discounts and free golf; peruse the packages.


 The Fiesta Americana Grand Los Cabos Golf & Spa Resort has an “Unlimited Golf Package that includes chauffeur service and other perks such as buffets and cocktails. The package begins at $298 a night for travel now through Oct. 4.

2.17 million tourists visit Vietnam this year-a drop

10:29' 02/08/2009 (GMT+7)

- The number of foreign visitors to Vietnam in the first seven months of this year reached 2.17 million, a fall of 18.7 percent year on year, according to data from the Vietnam Administration of Tourism (VNAT).

The number of visitors to the country for business dropped by 22.3 percent, for vacation by 21.4 percent, and for other reasons by 20.5 percent, while the number of visitors to visit relatives rose by 0.6 percent, it said.

There were only 149,000 foreign visitors to Vietnam in July, 12.9 percent lower than the same period last year.

A spokesman for VNAT said the main reason for the decline of visitors was the global financial crisis, adding that the global swine flu outbreak has also driven visitors away.

338 cases A/H1N1 flu confirmed so far

An additional 18 patients tested positive for the A (H1N1) flu on July 16, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Vietnam to 338.

The Department of Preventive Medicine and Environment under the Ministry of Health said that 279 patients have been released from hospital after treatment and no faltalities have been reported so far.

Currently, the remaining 59 patients are in to receive treatment. All are in a stable condition and show no serious symptoms.

According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), as of July 15, 135 countries and territories across the world have reported 125,993 cases of A/H1N1 flu, 667 of which were fatal.

India: India finally wakes up to swine flu

New Delhi: With the number of swine influenza cases increasing across the world, the health and civil aviation ministries have finally set up special counters at airports and seaports for enhanced surveillance and screening of passengers from nations hit by the outbreak. The counters were to be functional from Wednesday

Four counters each, just before the immigration, have been set up in the arrival and departure areas of Delhi and Mumbai airports. The counters will be manned by 40 doctors and 10 nurses each round-the-clock till fear of the flu subsides. Similar counters have been set up at other international airports.

The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security will grant temporary entry passes to health officialsfor easy access to high security zones.

Passengers from seven countries have been put on the scanner: Mexico, US, Canada, UK, Spain, New Zealand and Israel. They have to report the presence of fever, respiratory symptoms and details of visit to a flu-affected through a special form.

State health authorities have been told to identify hospitals near airports and seaports for tertiary care.

Pre-flight check-ups have been made mandatory for pilots and other crew, who have been trained to identify suspected flu cases on board.

DNA: India: India finally wakes up to swine flu