06 May 2009

Travelmole Guest Comment: ETOA executive director on the realities of swine flu

ETOA executive director Tom Jenkins on the reality of swine flu.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœThis is like wrestling with blancmange: there is nothing to grab. If no threat is posed, telling people that Ã¢â¬Åâœno threat existsÃ¢â¬~ automatically raises suspicions.

We are already reaching the stage where governments have threatened irrational reactions. This has included the killing of pigs, (a bizarre act of Ã¢â¬Ëœspecies cleansingÃ¢â¬â¢), the issuing of a travel advisories against most of Europe and numerous proposed bans on travel to Mexico. Even the WHO has pointed out that such measures are futile. When their governments start to counter imaginary threats, travellers follow suit.

Whatever the threats of a Ã¢â¬ËœpandemicÃ¢â¬â¢ pose to the world, currently the risk posed to potential travellers within Europe is nil. Even were the disease to become far more deadly and virulent than currently proved, death from H1N1 Swine Ã¢â¬Ëœflu is less likely than death by falling trees, bee stings, snake bites, lightening strikes or a wide variety of bizarre modes of fatality. Even if it is not contained, it seems to be respond to treatment and is not as deadly as first suggested. It is far less of a threat to life than existing endemic Ã¢â¬Ëœflu strains.

Responding to this Ã¢â¬ÅâœthreatÃ¢â¬~ seems to pander to stupidity.

But from the clientsÃ¢â¬â¢ view, the concern is genuine. And the travel industry has to react to clientsÃ¢â¬â¢ concerns, however ill-founded. ETOA members are agreeing on a list of measures that can be adopted by operators to re-assure people that everything is being done to minimize a minimal risk.

As Travellers in Europe, people are ridiculously safe from being harmed by the H1N1 virus.

Yet the threat to the travel industry is real. Comparatively spurious threats to individuals can trigger a mass response. In 2001 the foot and mouth crisis posed no threat to anyone travelling in the UK. Yet demand for holidays in the UK dropped sharply. After September 11th it was ludicrously safe to fly, but planes flew empty. SARS was largely restricted to an affected 0.0002% of the population of Asia, yet travel in that region dropped by 40%. There is a pattern of disproportionate damage.

So we have to declare the industries comparative safety and our determination to ensure that our clients remain safe from this virus.

ETOAÃ¢â¬â¢s assertion is that the use of face masks should be avoided. If someone is ill, then a mask may help prevent them spreading disease. If used incorrectly (such as removed when sneezing) they are worse than useless. And if someone is ill, then they ought to be in bed. The use of masks does nothing to protect the wearer. It creates a false sense of security and needlessly generates a sense of crisis.

ETOAÃ¢â¬â¢s recommendations for operators are:

- When coaches are used, they should to be vacuumed and cleaned with anti-bacterial agent daily.

- Ensure air conditioning filtration systems are cleaned
regularly

- On request from clients, supply antiseptic gels or wipes

- Remind clients of good hygiene procedures

- Where necessary, supply a bin for disposal of tissues

- Ensure that the usual procedures on isolating sick clients
are followed

- Ensure clients have adequate medical insurance.

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Your Comments (5)

Traveltek response to swine flu

In response to the current Swine Influenza outbreak and the World Health Organisation's (WHO) increase of the phase to Phase 5, Traveltek are monitoring the situation closely and taking steps to minimise the potential threat to services. As you will be aware Traveltek has well developed and robust business continuity plans as part of our commitment to customer service; a standard we have held since 1996. As such our support mechanisms are fully capable of being operated in a dispersed manner seamlessly and efficiently without degradation of performance. In the event of a deteriorating situation, we may invoke our Business Continuity Plan(BCP) and may move customer support to a dispersed stance; then we may put our Customer Operations Team(COT) on this footing and they will be working from home as and when the need arises. Staffing within our organisation will be maintained as fully as practicable but most support operations will be fully manageable remotely. In the event of a sustained period of degraded operation, support of customers current solutions will be our primary focus and staff will be tasked accordingly. We believe we are taking active and commensurate actions in response to the current situation and will continue to monitor the situation in relation to the WHO's advice. We will be working with partners and sub-contractors to determine their readiness so we can respond appropriately. Though the situation is serious we take the position that any potential pandemic will be well handled by European medical services and disruption should be minimal. We will review our stance as new information presents itself. Yours sincerely best regards Kenny Picken Managing Director Overkill for sure

By Kenny Picken, Thursday, May 7, 2009
Great news from a truly great brand

Always great to see a more traditional business hitting the headlines in the on-line world with news like this "The group said online sales have grown significantly since the introduction of a new website in December, with an increase of more than 250% in the final weeks of January compared to 2008". Congratulations for a sterling performance.

By Gilbert Archdale, Thursday, May 7, 2009
I survived the swine flu

I was at the Tianguis Turistico travel trade show in Acapulco, Mexico, during the swine flu scare --The President of Mexico cancelled his official presence in the show due to the flu... he chicken out, which saved us from a long boring speach-- I am back in Europe, quite safe and ready to go back to Mexico if el Presidente invites me

By ramon alvarez, Thursday, May 7, 2009
Swine flu-Tom Jenkins comments

Well done Tom! It's good to read blatant common sense from time to time. I'd rate the media appetite for sensational story angles as more of a risk to our health and sanity than swine flu. That's what's killing off endangered species like Tom Jenkins, whose forthright perspectives on controversial issues receive less and less air time because they exude too much common sense. Makes you pig-sick of all the porkies peddled by the media and over-cautious officials whose noses are too deep in the career trough to admit the truth.

By Tom Buncle, Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Wrestling with blancmange

Perhaps to lighten the tone, with so much doom and gloom around, this columnist could have posted a video clip of this blancmange wrestling to cheer us up.

By Johnson Michael, Wednesday, May 6, 2009