Indian travellers are going ahead with their travel plans during the ongoing summer break. This, despite the swine flu scare.
Indian travellers are going ahead with their travel plans during the ongoing summer break. This, despite the swine flu scare, that has caught the western countries in a state of tizzy.
“Those who are already travelling to countries like New Zealand or the United States are continuing with their travel plans rather than calling it off. Several others are aware of the flu but are still calling to reconfirm if their tours are as per schedule,” says Veena Patil, chairman & managing director (CMD), Kesari Tours Limited.
Generally, in the month of May and mid-June, more than five lakh Indian tourists go abroad to places like the USA, UK, New Zealand, Canada, Australia and France for vacation. “Countries like the US, UK and south east Asia are favoured destinations and we have not seen any cancellations yet. We have 15,000 tourists travelling in the month of May and none of them have shown any inclination to cancel their trip,” says Patil.
In fact, the swine flu panic did not generate any queries from Indian travellers until last week. But now the travellers are acknowledging its presence. “The FITs (free independent traveller) are not bothered. But those travelling in groups or families are enquiring whether it is safe to travel to certain destinations or not,” says Rajesh Rateria, owner, Cirrus Travels, Fort. “For instance, we have a family of six people touring US including California and New York. They have already booked their tickets to these places. They say that they will weigh the situation after going to the US and then decide if they need to skip the place, depending on the situation. But no one is cancelling,” he says.
However, travel agents and tour operators are not taking any chances. They are briefing the travellers about the precautions that need to be taken. “As per the directives of the tourism and health ministry we are advising the travellers about the precautions — washing hands frequently with soap if you are in a flu infected area, avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth,” he states.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}