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30 January, 2020

Coronavirus: Tours cancelled, more flights suspended as the industry reacts

young woman with face mask at the international airport in bangkok

The travel industry continues its response to the coronavirus epidemic, with tour operators scrambling to rearrange trips and more flight suspensions, as the Australian government ups its warning for China.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the government is trying to evacuate “isolated and vulnerable” Australians trapped in China due to the outbreak, with children and the elderly in Wuhan, where the virus originated, getting first priority, ABC News reported.

According to Morrison, those evacuated from Wuhan will be taken to Christmas Island for quarantine.

This comes as the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee urged those who have recently returned from Hubei province, where Wuhan is located, to isolate themselves in their home for 14 days.

It is believed that more than 600 Australians had registered as being in the Hubei province.

A warning on the government’s Smartraveller website advises Australians that the government does not recommend travelling within the Hubei Province. If it is necessary to travel to a destination with confirmed cases of the virus, the government recommends talking to a doctor before travelling, reading advice on infectious diseases, reading the advice for your destination on Smartraveller and subscribing to updates on the destination.

Smartraveller has also updated its advice for the whole of China to ‘reconsider your need to travel’.

Cases of the virus are now confirmed in three Australian states, with two cases now confirmed in Victoria adding to the four in New South Wales and one in Queensland, bringing the total of Australian cases to seven.

The total number of infections has climbed to 5,974, more than the 5,327 who contracted SARS between 2002-2003. The death toll currently sits at more than 130 people.

Meanwhile, more airlines are cancelling flights to China with British Airways halting all flights to the country and American Airlines suspending flights in between Los Angeles and Shanghai and Beijing.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said the airline is better equipped to deal with pandemics now than it was during the SARS outbreak during a press conference at the opening of its new pilot academy in Toowoomba, according to the Financial Review.

“You’d rather be Qantas than any other airline going into this,” he said.

On Wednesday, Travel Weekly reported that Qantas shares were down by 5.2 per cent to $6.36, with a 6.3 per cent drop over the five day period.

The industry responds

Wendy Wu Tours told Travel Weekly in a statement it is currently in contact with customers and agents who have clients travelling in February to rearrange travel plans and discuss options available.

“We are also monitoring the situation very closely departures post-February and taking into account travel advisories and updates on the situation,” the statement said.

On The Go Tours offered a similar statement, confirming it will offer full refunds for China tours affected by the virus outbreak after cancelling all China tours between now and 25 March 2020.

Agents are advised to contact On The Go Tours by 15th February to discuss options.

Crystal Cruises has posted an update on its website advising passengers it has implemented further health precautions and screening on its ships and that the line will notify travellers and travel partners directly if there are any changes to an existing voyage.

The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) told Travel Weekly in a statement it is monitoring developments in the outbreak closely.

“As with any trip, whether by land, air or sea, travellers should check with public health authorities to be informed regarding health matters at the destinations they will visit, and exercise appropriate precautions,” the statement said.

“Additionally, cruise lines take precautions to conduct screening of passengers and crew, when appropriate, for illness prior to boarding. All ships implement outbreak prevention and response measures and are fitted with medical facilities and onboard medical personnel 24/7 to provide initial care in the event of illness and prevent further transmission.”

Tourism Solomons also told Travel Weekly it is calling on all travellers heading to the Solomon Islands to take “serious heed” of health authorities.

While no cases have yet been confirmed in the area, local health authorities are working hard to prevent any possible spread.

Featured image credit: iStock/macky_ch

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Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

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