Poll shows surprising results for travel to Zika-hit countries
The majority of agents have seen a drop in demand for countries affected by the Zika virus, but given the amount of publicity, the fall is perhaps not as great as might have been expected.
In a recent TravelMole poll, almost 47% of agents said they hadn’t seen any decline in bookings for countries where the virus is present.
This includes Olympic host Brazil and other countries in South America, some parts of North America including Florida and Miami, several islands in the Caribbean and parts of southeast Asia, including many popular honeymoon destinations.
Zika is relatively harmless to most adults but it can cause abnormalities in unborn babies and, as the mosquito-born virus stays in the blood for several weeks, both men and women who have travelled to affected countries are advised to avoid trying for a baby for at least eight weeks after returning home and for at least six months if they have contracted the virus.
The Foreign Office has advised pregnant women and couples planning babies to re-consider plans to travel to affected countries.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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