Mexico loses out as tourists turn elsewhere

SWINE FLU:MEXICO BECAME the destination non grata of the travel world this week, with thousands of holidaymakers who had planned to visit the North American country now headed elsewhere.

In line with guidelines from the Department of Foreign Affairs, which recommended that all inessential travel to Mexico be cancelled following the outbreak of swine flu, Irish operators have been offering alternative destinations to those with bookings to Mexico in the next few weeks.

Since Wednesday, companies have also been flying home any of their clients already on holiday there. And cruise companies have been diverting their trips away from Mexican ports.

But despite the World Health Organisation decision to upgrade the flu-pandemic alert to level five, and the death of one sufferer in the US, travel to destinations other than Mexico remains unaffected.

A spokesman for the Travel Department said it has been selling escorted holidays to the US and that none has been affected, although US cruise trips that include visits to Mexican ports have been rerouted. “People haven’t been in touch with us. There is no fear out there yet,” he said.

Cruise company John Galligan Travel said its business was good despite the flu scare. A spokesman said people were aware of the situation but were not changing their plans.

A spokeswoman for American Holidays and Tropical Places said they had received a small number of calls from people about the safety of travelling to the US, but once they were reassured they did not cancel their holidays.

“If the situation does change, we will react as soon as possible,” she added.