Travel agencies see cancellations, temporarily suspend trips to China over Wuhan virus
SINGAPORE: Travel agencies in Singapore take seen cancellations on holiday bookings fabricated for Cathay every bit the Wuhan virus continues to spread, leading some to append all tours to the country for the coming weeks.
Dynasty Travel said about 200 travellers who have made bookings to visit Mainland china in February and March, have cancelled or postponed their trips.
"People are worried," said manager of public relations and communications Alicia Seah, adding that the cancellations accept risen after enhanced measures against the novel coronavirus, including a 14-solar day leave of absenteeism for those working in certain sectors upon returning from People's republic of china, were appear in Singapore earlier this week.
"At this point in time, we are liaising with hotels and airlines for amicable solutions for our customers," she told CNA.
READ: Wuhan virus: Increased border checks, exit of absence among new counter-measures
READ: Compulsory get out of absenteeism for students, teachers returning from Communist china: MOE
At Eu Holidays, all tours to Communist china starting from Jan 26 to the stop of March have been cancelled amid ascent concerns among its customers. A majority of those afflicted have thus far opted to modify tours or postpone their trips to China, said the spokesman.
For Mainland china-leap tours parting in April, Eu Holidays said it continues to appraise the situation and volition provide relevant updates promptly.
Likewise, Chan Brothers Travel told CNA that information technology is "suspending tours to Prc progressively with departures till Feb 29, 2022 for now".
Autonomously from holidaymakers having second thoughts about visiting Mainland china, entering tours from China take also come to a near standstill following the state's recent ban on overseas group tours, bout operators said.
The ban was announced over the weekend past Chinese regime in an try to control the spread of the influenza-similar virus.
In response to CNA's queries, a spokesperson from the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS) said: "Currently, there is total counterfoil of inbound tours from the Red china market."
With its travel bookings from China for the month of Feb "all been cancelled", Dynasty Travel'south Ms Seah said: "We are at present worried about both entering and outbound travel to and from China.
"As you know, the largest inbound tourist market for Singapore is China, accounting for almost 18 per cent so the manufacture is actually quite reliant on Chinese tourists."
CAUTIOUS Nearly IMPACT Alee
Speaking at a multi-agency press conference on Mon, Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing warned that the global outbreak will affect Singapore's economic system, with tourism-related sectors being of "immediate concern".
Economists have said the repercussions on tourism could start showing as before long equally next calendar month and cautioned that if the outbreak is prolonged, information technology could chill travel need worldwide and accept a negative bear on such as that seen during the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003.
READ: Wuhan virus expected to touch Singapore'south economy: Chan Chun Sing
READ: Wuhan virus to hit Singapore'southward tourism sector, simply too soon to assess impact on overall economic system: Experts
Then, at the peak of the epidemic in Apr 2003, many countries in the Asia Pacific reported falls in tourist arrivals past more than 50 per cent as passenger need in the region plunged 45 per cent, according to the International Air Transport Association.
In Singapore, overall visitor arrivals fell by 15 per cent in March, followed past a steeper drop of 61 per cent in the first 13 days of April. As a result, average hotel occupancy rates fell sharply to betwixt 20 per cent and xxx per cent, compared with normal levels of 70 per cent or above, official statistics showed.
For now, about 20 per cent of inbound tour groups from other countries accept requested postponements or cancellations, NATAS said.
"NATAS is deeply concerned of the current state of affairs," its spokesperson said, adding that the association has sent out an advisory to all bout operators and guides as of Jan 29 "to seek their cooperation in adhering to the guidelines to prevent any spread of virus".
These include the daily cleaning of all coaches and rescheduling of itineraries to avoid over-crowded areas for tour operators, according to the guide seen by CNA. Tour guides are to don advisable masks when on duty, practice good hygiene, look out for symptoms amid tourists and adapt for immediate medical attention upon detection.
EU Holidays said information technology has seen a "handful of passengers" belongings dorsum their holiday plans to the region so far.
"Business will definitely be affected," said the spokesman from Eu Holidays. "We are cautious just confident with how (the outbreak) is handled past the Singapore Government."
Dynasty Travel'southward Ms Seah also expressed hopes that the rapid containment measures adopted by governments around the world, every bit a result of the SARS feel, will hateful "short-term pain for the long-term gain".
To tide through the upcoming uncertainties, travel agencies said they take started reducing advertisement spending on the Chinese market place and are shifting their attention to other destinations instead.
"We are negotiating deals with our travel partners to stimulate more travellers to other destinations," said European union Holidays. "Nosotros will have new measures to address the increasingly cautious sentiment."
Meanwhile, NATAS declined to comment if its travel fair planned for Feb 21 to 23 at the Singapore Expo will go on as planned.
Given how the outbreak continues to unravel, travel agencies that have previously signed upwardly equally exhibitors said they are taking a expect-and-meet arroyo.
Ms Victoria Chong, marketing communications executive from Chan Brothers Travel, said "now might not be the most opportune time for such an event".
Eu Holidays said while information technology remains a participant of the travel fair for now, it will continue to monitor the situation and might pull out if it feels that the chance exposure for its staff and customers is as well high.
READ: Wuhan virus in Singapore: The outset 7 days
The new virus, which originated from the Chinese city of Wuhan, has killed at least 170 and infected more than seven,700 people in China, the state's authorities said on Th.
It has too since spread to other countries such equally Australia, Cambodia, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and the U.s..
Singapore has thus far confirmed 13 cases of the virus, with all of them existence Chinese nationals from Wuhan.
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Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/wuhan-virus-china-trips-travel-agencies-cancellations-196461
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