Swine Flu Update

Another morning, another situation... swine flu doesn't seem to be as bad as it has been reckoned - or is it as bad? One of my colleages just returned from Mexico and I must admit, I am a little insecure about being around her. Anyhow, it is a confusing situation, but there is no need to panick.

Thanks to my CEO Richard Redling, the message from ICCA President Leigh Harry has arrived, please read it here...

In the following, you may read the latest reaction of the chairwoman of Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI), Maura Allen Gast:

Some days it seems our industry just can't get a break.

Just as we begin to see some headway in our industry-wide efforts to recognize the value and importance of the travel industry to our global, national and local economies, comes along reports of the swine flu outbreak, eroding traveler confidence just as it was starting to show faint signs of recovery.

The World Health Organization's announcement this week raising the alert level to Phase 4 is obviously a cause for serious concern.  Per the WHO, Phase 4 is "characterized by the human-to-human transmission" of the influenza virus. 

Certainly the health issues posed by a potential pandemic are serious, and we don't take these lightly at DMAI.  Working across the industry, and through the voice of the U.S. Travel Association, talking points regarding this issue were released late yesterday and posted on DMAI's website. 

As destination marketing organizations, we must maintain frequent contact with our local community health officials.  We need to be part of our respective communities' emergency response plans as it relates to these issues, too.  If you've not yet made the call to the highest ranking health official in your community, schedule that meeting today.  We all need to know first hand if there are reports of any cases in your community and what your community's response plan is.  This will also be critical information to convey to your local industry partners - your attractions, restaurants, hoteliers and retailers who may not have access to a direct line for information.  And certainly, it will become invaluable in conveying accurate and adequate information to your customers.

We must all recognize that this is a cause for concern, but not for panic.  As an industry we learned much from recent health concerns, such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Avian flu; U.S. Travel notes that the 2003 SARS outbreak and the subsequent bird flu threat quickly became examples of "infodemic" rather than an actual "epidemic."  Post-SARS, the Asian Development Bank noted the lost GDP for East and Southeast Asia was US$18 billion, primarily through downturns in tourist arrivals.

As U.S. Travel notes:  "Governments and opinion leaders around the world must strike a delicate balance of accurately and adequately informing citizens of health concerns, without unduly discouraging travel and other important economic activity.  Travelers should heed the advice of experts when determining how best to manage health concerns."

Our industry has always shown the strength of its resourcefulness and creativity in the most trying of times; based on the issues we are collectively facing today, I can't help but think there's a likely Nobel prize winner in our midst.

Best wishes,
your CIMunity team

Katrin