Hundreds of tourists cancel tours because of flu epidemic

According to Tran The Dung, deputy head of the team on promoting domestic tourism in HCM City, four travel firms have reported canceled tours so far this month as tourists are concerned about the flu epidemic.
Ben Thanh Tourism, for example, has reported one tour canceled. This was a sightseeing tour by aircraft in the central region for 43 tourists from August 7-10. Thanh Nien Xung Phong Travel has also reported one canceled tour, a sightseeing tour by aircraft in the north, designed for 33 tourists.
One tour has also been canceled with Fiditourist, a tour to Vung Tau by land for 60 tourists. He Tre has to cancel two tours by air for 40 tourists to the north.
However, Dung said that the number of tourists purchasing tours under promotion programmes in August will not decrease.
In order to encourage tourists in the north to travel to the south, the HCM City Culture, Sports and Tourism Department has organised a roadshow in Hanoi, introducing the destinations, potentials and tourism services of HCM City.
He said that member companies of his team have reported that 1,200 tourists have bought tours, nearly the same number of clients that booked tours in July (1,321).
Explaining this, analysts say that tourists’ worries about the flu epidemic have been eased, especially as they know how to protect themselves from the flu epidemic. They always wear protective masks during tours, restrict talking with strange persons in crowded places, and keep away from people who have signs of flu.
Twenty H1N1-positive patients were discovered in a delegation of 200 tourists travelling throughout the country. However, all patients have recovered.
Dung said that since the incident, the member firms of the team have organised three more tours for three delegations of tourists going to Ha Long, Sa Pa and Tam Coc. All the tourists have been staying healthy.
Meanwhile, airlines have been taking a lot of measures to prevent the flu epidemic from spreading.
Jetstar Pacific on August 18 announced the application of measures to prevent the spread of the flu epidemic, such as spraying specialised decontamination substances before every aircraft takes off and lands.
The airline has also equipped itself with body temperature measuring machines to take the temperatures of all passengers. All staff who work at the airport, pilots and stewardesses must wear protective masks.
Jestar has also called on all people to join in the prevention of the flu by wearing masks when travelling by air.