16 July 2009

PATA fears swine flu impact on SE Asia

BANGKOK - Updates published this week by PATA's Strategic Intelligence Centre indicate that Southeast Asia will this year suffer a fall of around four per cent in international arrivals compared to 2008.

PATA says there is every chance that the continuing spread of the Type A (H1N1) influenza virus will further undermine the confidence of business and leisure travellers and prompt drastic preventative measures by national governments and other public and private sector organisations that will also hinder cross-border traffic.

"It is clear that we must now apply the knowledge, expertise and lessons learned from the SARS crisis of 2003 and recent outbreaks of the Avian Influenza A (H5N1)," said PATA president and CEO, Greg Duffell.

The latest PATA updates were presented to members of Skal Thailand.

PATA is to post a Type A (H1N1) advisory bulletin with FAQs on its website this week using latest information tabled at a teleconference of the Tourism Emergency Response Network (TERN).

TERN is a closely knit grouping of the leading tourism associations of the world formally launched in Washington DC in April 2006 under the auspices of Francesco Frangialli, then secretary-general of the World Tourism Organisation.

Thai Airways International (THAI) said yesterday it has suffered a drop in passenger numbers, particularly from East Asia, with Chinese, Japanese and South Korean flyers down 15-20 per cent.

Said executive chairman Wallop Bhukkanasut, "The outbreak of type-A (H1N1) influenza is threatening international travel and affecting THAI's business directly."

Other airlines have also seen passenger numbers decline. Bangkok Airways, the major operator of Bangkok-Koh Samui flights, has reported low bookings on that route even with the high season starting next month.

It has lowered its passenger forecast this year to 2.6 million, due to the pandemic. Last year, it flew 2.5 million and had expected to serve 2.8 million this year.