VisitBritain: no need yet to advise UK tourists on swine flu

VisitBritain has said it does not plan to issue specific advice to visitors to the UK on the swine flu pandemic, as yet.

The outbreak of the disease in Mexico, which is a hybrid form of flu that affects pigs and birds, is suspected to have killed as many as 100 people in Mexico.

Two people have now been confirmed as infected in Scotland after a trip to Mexico and are receiving treatment.

A spokesman said: "VisitBritain, on behalf of Tourism Industry Emergency Response group, will continue to liaise with Government and its agencies and others to monitor the outbreak and its particular relevance to the UK tourism industry.

"VisitBritain does not intend, at present, to issue particular advice to actual or potential visitors to Britain on swine influenza. The UK has a strong reputation for its response to and management of previous threats and our visitors need have no concerns about their health and safety when travelling to and around Britain."

According to the tourism body, Mexico is a minor market for inbound tourism to the UK, worth around £40m per annum. Unlike Hong Kong during the SARS epidemic, it is not a transit gateway to the UK for other parts of the world either.

The British Hospitality Association (BHA) and the Tourism Alliance were also measured in their response to the fast developing situation.

"If it becomes a major outbreak then it will certainly deter some travel, "said a spokesman for the BHA. "I think hoteliers should be aware that occupancy could be affected in the next few weeks, but by how much it's too soon to say."

Kurt Janson from the Tourism Alliance said he had been in touch with the Foreign Office to find out the latest but "hadn't felt the need for a meeting yet".

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By Gemma Sharkey

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