Hong Kong sees immediate recovery
Load factors and occupancy rates soar again following SARS judgement
Optimism is spreading to the tourist sector in the Far East now that the WHO has removed Hong Kong from its list of SARS-affected areas, according to a report in The Times.
The newspaper says the decision has “triggered a new mood of optimism across the region’s travel and tourism industry”. Cathay Pacific and British Airways have both stated that they are planning to reinstate flights, while Virgin Atlantic has already reported a rise in passenger numbers over the last few days.
A spokesman for Virgin told The Times: “We have definitely seen an increase in confidence and the flights are looking good. Confidence is definitely returning and load factors seem to be back to normal.”
Hotels in Hong Kong have also noticed an immediate improvement in the situation; this is hardly surprising, however, as occupancy levels in many hotels were as low as 10 per cent at the height of the outbreak. The newspaper sounds a note of caution, saying most medical experts agree the disease could recur, and that if it does, it could have a “very negative effect”.
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