SARS figures under scrutiny
It is feared that bookings to the Far East could slump further after the World Health Organisation (WHO) accused China of under-reporting the extent of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
WHO officials say Beijing could have up to 200 cases, rather than the 37 that has been officially reported.
It appears that the Chinese authorities have not been including information on patients in military hospitals in their official figures on the so-called superbug.
An ABTA spokesman told TravelMole: “We have been inundated with calls from members of the public who are concerned about travelling to the far east, and to China in particular. It is essential that the World Health Organisation secure full co-operation from the Chinese authorities to ensure the risk is fully investigated and the appropriate measures taken.”
In the UK, the Guild of Business Travel Agents recently decided to move its annual conference from Shanghai because of fears over the spread of the disease in China.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Qatar Airways offers reduced timetable to over 60 destinations
Hands In, UATP join forces for airline multi-card payments
AirlineRatings reveals world's safest airline rankings for 2026
Vietnam warns airlines of possible flight reductions amid jet fuel shortages
Fliggy opens AI-powered travel bookings and developer tools