Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, today issued the following statement in response to concerns related to travel and swine flu:
“Travelers, like all citizens, should heed the advice of experts when determining how best to manage health concerns. According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Swine Influenza (swine flu) should not discourage people from traveling to or within the United States.
“We recommend that government officials treat this issue and any forthcoming statements with care and caution. We must address the situation with measured, pragmatic responses so as not to cause panic and negative consequences to the economy if health risks are not imminent.
“Recent health concerns, such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Avian flu, provide useful guidance as governments, opinion leaders and travelers consider the appropriate response to swine flu.
“We stand ready to assist the U.S. government and health experts in any way necessary to communicate critical information to travelers. The U.S. Travel Association has contacted all relevant agencies with an offer to help in any way needed, and will soon begin posting updates on www.ustravel.org.”
The U.S. Travel Association is the national, non-profit organization representing all components of the $740 billion travel industry. U.S. Travel’s mission is to promote and facilitate increased travel to and within the United States. For more information, visit www.ustravel.org.
Contacts:
U.S. Travel Association
Kristy Chandler, 202-408-2172
kchandler@ustravel.org
or
Cathy
Keefe, 202-408-2183
ckeefe@ustravel.org