Ways2Travel: OPENING SESSION OF 9TH GLOBAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM SUMMIT

OPENING SESSION OF 9TH GLOBAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM SUMMIT TO ADDRESS THE SUBJECT OF SWINE–FLU THAT IS AFFECTING GLOBAL TOURISM

After bird flu and the global economic slump, now swine flu is set to damage this years' tourism business .Already several countries have issued travel notices warning tourists from going to swine flu affected countries and urging people to undergo screening at all airports. This has caused alarm among travellers who have planned trips to the several European Union countries, Mexico and United States of America. Described by the World Health Organisation (WHO )as influenza A (H1N1), swine flu has created havoc in the western world, with 11 affected countries establishing the fact.
    To prevent the infection from entering India, the authorities have started screening tourists coming from fluaffected countries like the US, Canada, Spain, New Zealand, Mexico, France and Britain, Austria and Israel.
    Although WHO has not established restriction on regular travel or prohibited entry at country borders, Indian travelers are now preferring to visit foreign locales untouched by the flu, mainly south-east asia. Indians are thinking twice before traveling to the western countries. Many of them are opting for domestic travel.
    World over, tourism organisations are planning to attend the The Global Travel and Tourism Summit which is bieng held in Brazil. The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has confirmed its lineup of discussions for the opening session of its 9th Global Travel and Tourism Summit on 'Preparing for the Inevitable – Pandemics' today.
    To be held in Florianópolis, the state capital of Santa Catarina in Southern Brazil on 14-16 May, the Global Travel and Tourism Summit has assumed even greater significance than usual this year as it is the first global meeting of leaders from government and the private sector to be condcuted since the outbreak of swine flu. This important session will focus on the following questions.
    What is the latest prognosis on the possibility of a swine flu pandemic?
    What measures have been taken by governments and the industry to address the issue so far, to try to mitigate its impact?
    How effective are current crisis management plans likely to be if the threat of a pandemic materialises?
    If this were to happen, what are the estimated losses that the industry would likely suffer?
    How can the industry working in partnership with governments ensure a rapid recovery of travel and tourism demand, particularly for those destinations most affected?