BETWEEN the influenza A(H1N1) virus and the global financial crisis, Tourism Secretary Joseph “Ace” considers the economic crunch as the bigger challenge for the country’s tourism industry.

He said reaction toward the virus is a “psychological scare” that is “natural.”

“I am confident that in a few months-just like in the US, Mexico and Australia where the virus started—the A(H1N1) will be treated like any other flu such that we would stop counting (the cases). We are counting now because it is new. But we could see that virus cases in the country is milder than those in the US, Mexico and Australia,” he said at the sidelines of the yesterday’s opening of the Travel Exchange Market at Marco Polo Plaza Cebu.

"Matod Pa Sa Lola ni Noy Kulas." Join the story-writing contest on Cebuano folklore and win prizes.

He recalled the panic over the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which mainly affected Hong Kong and China in 2003. He attributed the panic to lack of information regarding the illness.

The spread of the influenza A(H1N1) virus, one the other hand, also happened in one of Philippine’s top tourist market, the US, where the government “calmly” handled the pandemic, Durano said.

Not new

“Since the people there understand what this virus is and how mild it is and that it could be treated, for me, this would not be a new consideration for them whether they would come to the Philippines or not,” he added.

“The important thing for DOT (Department of Tourism) right now is that we do not react (rashly). Instead, we should ensure that travelers understand that A(H1N1) virus cases in the country are mild and most have recovered already,” he said.

However, Marriott Hotel Cebu City general manager Roy Abraham said the virus has discouraged some travelers who did not want to go through checks at airports.

“If you travel with a little fever that it is not even caused by the virus you would be made to go through quarantine, so many would rather stay home,” he said in a separate interview yesterday.

He noted that the travel market was starting to pick up with the virus came up.

But he said Marriott, unlike resorts whose market are leisure travelers, is not heavily affected by the global financial crisis.

Doing well

“We in the city are actually doing pretty well. (Marriott’s) market are business travelers and they have to travel,” he said.

In a separate interview during the opening of the Philippine International Tourism Fair on Thursday, Tourism Undersecretary Phineas Alburo urged people not to overreact to the pandemic and to refrain from wearing surgical masks in public unless prescribed by a doctor.

“Tourism is also about image. If people here are wearing masks and their images will be caught on tape to be shown on national and international TV, (that) could make potential travelers uneasy about coming here,” he said.

Plantation Bay Resort general manager Efren Belarmino observed that the reported cases of influenza A (H1N1) virus coincided with the lean season for hotels and resorts, which is June to September.

“It is important to use every opportunity to show that influenza A(H1N1) virus is not be an obstacle for existing and emerging markets to travel here,” said Marco Polo Plaza Cebu general manager Hans Hauri.

While the global financial crisis has affected tradition tourist markets like the US, Durano said domestic travelers have contributed significantly to the country’s tourism industry.

He observed an 18-percent growth rate in domestic tourists during the first quarter this year.

“First quarter (figures) are usually low. But this first quarter’s four percent growth rate is the best we have in the past four years. We managed to grow even when many were expecting negative (performance),” he said.

Marriott’s Abraham said the hotel, a property of the Ayala group, has a 55 to 60 percent occupancy rate, “which is not bad considering the times.”

He said 60 percent of Marriott Cebu’s guests are from within the Philippines, followed by the Americans then the Japanese. The hotel, located within the Cebu Business Park, also gets many balikbayans.

“The market was already starting to rebound then the flu came in,” said Abraham. He expects to see the “full effect” of the market recovery in the middle of next year. (with LAP)