Swine flu collision more effect on Tourism to U.S.

Sunday, the alarming headlines about swine flu could keep tourists away - and hurt their bottom line.

Horrifying woman sitting in Mexico Subway....



And they have reason for anxiety: Italy, Poland, Venezuela and Hong Kong already has advised citizens not to travel to the United States.

"If it spreads, and I believe it will, we will lose 30% of our revenues," says Dave Schulter, 49, of Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, which sells handbags in Times Square street corner.

Alirio Gonzalez, head of the gift shop at the Crowne Plaza Times Square Hotel, predicted tourists will start canceling reservations, unless the authorities in the U.S. and Mexico can quickly check the spread of disease.

"This hotel is like a thermometer," said Gonzalez, 45, of Union City, NJ "It takes the temperature of tourism."

Dominic Raiano, 52, who sells the New York theme T-shirts in the vicinity, including some he said fewer visitors will come to the city if flu keeps spreading. The street vendor sales are already down 60% due to poor economy, and now he fears that they will take a double hit.



City tourism officials have not responded to requests for information on plans to combat the effects of the scare.

Despite the new concerns, tourists who swarmed suffocating midtown sidewalks said swine flu would not keep them away. "No disrespect, but the Yanks panic too quickly," said George Jones, 52, visiting from Northern Ireland. But panic is real abroad.

Besides countries to urge their citizens not to come to America, at Tokyo's Narita Airport, officials have begun to take the temperature of all passengers arriving from Mexico.

China and Russia are planning a mass quarantine, although no cases have been reported there. And Hong Kong and Taiwan, said the visitors who came back from the flu-stricken areas with fever would be held incommunicado until they feel better.
Philippines ordered an arriving from America to be screened for flu symptoms and prohibited American and Mexican pork - although you can not get influenza from food. Russia banned pork products from the U.S.

Cases have begun popping uparound world, but so far the only deaths have been in Mexico.

New Zealand said the 10 students who came home sick from a school trip to Mexico probably had swine flu. An Israeli man, four French citizens, seven Spaniards and two Scots - all New York businesses worried recent travelers to Mexico - were suspected of having swine influenza. Canada confirmed six cases, all mild.
In Mexico, fear kept one million homes. Restaurants Saturday tom, schools were closed and church pews were abandoned as the faithful listened to the mass on the radio.
"Give us the precautionary principle and the confidence to act with responsibility and to avoid becoming infected or infecting others," Cardinal Norberto Rivera called the Virgin of Guadalupe, Mexico's patron saint.

Soccer games were played in empty stadiums. Bars, ordered closed in 10 days by the government were all shutters.

American Airlines, Continental Airlines and U.S. Airways all announced they would waive the normal fees for customers who wanted to change their travel plans to Mexico.