Travellers getting over swine flu scare, travel agents say
The Swine Flu scare led some people to cancel their overseas travel plans, mostly fearful of travel in aircraft, but most people have got over their initial scare, travel agents have said.
"There were a couple of days when people panicked and they were cancelling flights, but bookings are picking up again and some people have actually rebooked,having realised they can also get swine flu in Malta," said Noel Farrugia, chief executive director of Britannia Tours.
He said the cancellations were mostly on flights to Spain, the UK and Catania, but the situation had since normalised.
"We have an aircraft going to Costa Brava today with 130 people," Mr Farrugia said.
Norman Hamilton, from Hamilton Travel, said people were mostly scared of travelling to the UK and Spain and some had tried to cancel their holidays, although in the end they stuck to their original plans. He argued that with swine flu present in Malta, it was as bad staying at home as going abroad.
Richard Magri, of Mondial Holidays, was of the same view. He said a number of people called asking for information or to cancel their flights.
"I would have thought that once there were cases of swine flu in Malta, people would feel more comfortable to go abroad because there was still a chance to get swine flu here," he said. He said the main inquiries were about Spain and the UK.
Mark Anastasi from Tristar Travel, said some people preferred not to travel to Spain.
Lourdes Grech, from Europa Tours, said the company saw a reduction in bookings even before last week, but this could be because of the financial crisis rather than swine flu.
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Adrian Cardona
Jul 7th 2009, 14:28
@ j bonello
perfectly said! some people are simply out to get a discount on anything! Laura Bartolo...so you're saying that for the right price you would, after all, risk catching the flu you're scaring everyone about. What farcical reasoning! Stay at home if you like it so much, and let the rest of us enjoy our holidays abroad in peace and blissful happiness.
j bonello
Jul 7th 2009, 13:38
Dear Laura I have 4 tickets to Spain which I can let you have for 50% discount - do you accept? What does catching the flu and air fare discount have to do with all this????? Are you looking for a cheap holiday .......... even though you're so afraid of contracting the virsus?
Robert Caruana
Jul 7th 2009, 13:07
The logic being put forward by travel agents is nothing short of inspiring. I think it would be a wonderful experience for a family to be caught up in Spain or the UK with parents and kids all down with fever and other influenza symptoms. No thanks, I would rather be sick at home!
Laura.Bartolo
Jul 7th 2009, 12:12
Why not the travel agents go themselves if its so safe to travel abroad, maybe they should lower the fair at a massive DISCOUNT* then perhaps i'll take that chance, but as someone already said, there is no place like home if unfortunate enough to catch the bug. Agree?
Kyle Bartolo
Jul 7th 2009, 11:12
Very true, Swine flu is in our country... Fine. But you go abroad to enjoy yourself unless on busines.. And staying with many people for a good amount of hours on the plane is really risky.. Excluding the fact that previous people could have been sick and sneezed on some parts of the plane. Whats the point of going on holiday to be anxious and wary most of the time, especially if you have kids. Also, If I had to get sick, I'd rather be in my own country. Knowing what facilities I have and where is already less stressful on the mind than even worrying how we are going to find medical help and who to trust. Having family to support us and so on is important.
I understand why people would cancel there holidays or re book as it might be worth taking the risk. But I dont understand how people would say that since the swine flu is now everywhere, its ok to go abroad. THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME.
R Aquilina
Jul 7th 2009, 10:56
It's not going to foreign Countries which is a worry,after all it's already here anyway. What is worrying is being in close proximity to a hundred or two fellow passengers in an enclosed air conditioned airplane where germs are being recirculated all the time.
Marion Pace
Jul 7th 2009, 10:53
What is worrying is if you get contaminated with the swine flu from here exactly before you travel and it comes out the day or next when you arrive in the other country. In this case you cannot go out but you have to stay in quarantine and bye bye holiday plans.