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People Should Be
Travelling -- World Health
Organization
Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) President
and CEO, Mr. Peter de Jong, sent an urgent message
to PATA members on April 30 after attending a press
briefing in Bangkok by World Health Organization
Executive Director, Dr. David Heymann, on April
28.
The message from Mr. de Jong, in full,
read:-
I want to share with you my personal impressions
of a presentation by Dr. David Heymann, Executive
Director of the World Health Organization (WHO),
which I attended on April 28 in Bangkok. Dr.
Heymann was in Bangkok to address the heads of
state of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian
Nations) plus China (PRC) and Hong Kong SAR on the
SARS situation facing the region.
At a time when the SARS paranoia is having a
devastating effect on our industry, I felt it
important to listen to this authoritative WHO
spokesperson who came to share the latest findings
on SARS with Asia's government leaders, and report
these findings to you, our members.
Dr. Heymann said, in effect, there was nothing
about the SARS virus that should prevent people
from travelling. He was concerned that the WHO's
efforts to keep the public informed about the
spread of the virus had had the unfortunate effect
of discouraging travel to, from and through our
region.
Dr. Heymann regretted the public perception that
travellers were exposed to undue risks of
contracting SARS. He said: "We want tourists to
understand risk is greater, as they perceive it,
than it actually is."
He told the press: "We realise that the travel
industry is hurting and we want to help get the
risk perception right. Now that effective
monitoring and exit screening is in place, there is
no good reason why people shouldn't be travelling
in the same numbers as previously."
Importantly, Dr. Heymann confirmed that the
travel experience was NOT a contributor to the
spread of SARS. He emphasised that the public
perception of this virus, which has caused a
serious downturn in travel and tourism, was based
upon an inaccurate interpretation of information
that had been provided by the WHO to governments
and the public.
I think it is extremely important for PATA
members and the travel and tourism industry at
large to know that this information came from a
senior executive of the world's foremost public
health authority. It is essential that this
reassurance be communicated onwards throughout our
industry and to the public.
Dr. Heymann reported the good news that Vietnam
had successfully managed to contain the spread of
the disease and that SARS had "peaked" in several
other countries (but not China (PRC)). If this
trend continues, it will probably result in several
other destinations being taken off the WHO list of
SARS-affected areas in the coming days and weeks.
On April 30, the travel advisory for Toronto was
lifted. These are encouraging signs.
Dr. Heymann admitted: "SARS has had an
unnecessarily negative impact on the economy,
travel, trade and tourism because of unrealistic
fear. The public must make better judgements."
It is PATA's role to provide accurate and
balanced information so that the public can make
informed travel decisions.
For too long the public perception has been that
travellers and the travel industry were the
culprits and conduits responsible for the
transmission of SARS. I am relieved to learn that
our industry is not to blame, nor should our
customers be penalised or discouraged. Travel is as
safe today as it was several months ago.
Together, let's get this message out to the
global marketplace -- quickly and effectively.
Peter de Jong
PATA President and CEO
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