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Avian Flu: No Need For Travel Restrictions |
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Written by WTO
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Wednesday, 11 January 2006 |
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Avian Flu: UNWTO Calls For Caution But Says No Need For Travel Restrictions 11 Jan 06
While
the latest outbreak of avian flu in Turkey is not expected to have a
serious impact on tourism in the country or the immediate region, the
tourism industry must not underestimate the threat and needs to keep
preparing for the worst should it occur, the World Tourism Organization
(UNWTO) said on Wednesday.
"Our objective is to serve the travelling public and the world economy,
which is heavily dependent on tourism, in order to prevent or at least
mitigate the impact of what so far is still a limited disease," said
Geoffrey Lipman, special advisor to UNWTO. He will represent the
Organization at International Pledging Conference on Avian and Human
Pandemic Influenza, in Beijing on 17-18 January. The conference is
co-sponsored by the People's Republic of China, the European Commission
and the World Bank.
"We are continuously monitoring the situation, through contact with the
World Health Organization (WHO) and other tourism-related organizations
to ensure the tourism community is fully prepared in the event of a
more widespread outbreak," added UNWTO Secretary-General Francesco
Frangialli.
He recalled the high-level meeting with the WHO Director General Dr
Jong-Wook Lee held at the WHO Headquarters in Geneva on the 23rd of
November 2005. UNWTO was represented by the Secretary-General Mr.
Frangialli and colleagues together with IATA, ACI, IH&RA, IFTO and
UFTAA - thus the representatives of airlines, airports, hotels and
restaurants, tour operators and travel agents.
"Despite more cases of avian flu being reported among people, we are
still at 'stage 3' in which no transmission between humans has been
detected. No tourists have been affected, and we believe the current
situation does not warrant any form of restriction or other
discouragement to travel to any destination, whether for holiday or
business,"
"But, as with residents in affected areas, we urge all tourists to
follow closely the recommendations of national and local health and
veterinary authorities, especially in regard to avoiding bird farms and
other contacts with birds, before leaving or while travelling."
Mr. Frangialli stressed: "It is far too early to talk about a crisis in
tourism, in Turkey or any other country. Tour operators already have
contingency plans in place in case of an outbreak and there is no
reason not to stick with them."
"However, we advise everybody involved in the travel industry to follow
the recommendations of both UNWTO and WHO and to be continually on
guard. In the event of any serious changes, we will, in cooperation
with health authorities and other industry organizations, be ready to
release further recommendations and guidelines."
The UNWTO General Assembly at its 16th session in Dakar, Senegal,
approved a special budget of €250,000 in addition to the regular
budgetary resources in case of necessity regarding the avian flu this
year. |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 11 January 2006 )
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