Philippines stays healthy for travel
By Rosli Abidin Yahya

The global and devastating outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) has hit the travel trade below the belt, just as airlines began to hope for a postwar turnaround.

However, many travellers have opted to go to Manila for their holidays, Philippines being a SARS-free country like Brunei Darussalam.

Royal Brunei Airlines' flights to Manila recorded near full capacity as travellers chose to go to Manila instead.

At the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Manila, health security was very tight as health officials were seen mingling with the crowds to look for SARS suspects. They were easily spotted as they wore masks and hospital attire.

If they managed to catch a SARS suspect the officials would quarantine them.

Even though Philippines is SARS-free, there has been no let-up to health security. Everyday the national television channels aired SARS-related programmes such as "SARS Update" so people would continue to be aware of the deadly virus.

Daily advertisements advising people on SARS have also been put up in major national newspapers.

"Ensuring enough sleep, staying healthy, taking Vitamins A and C and refraining from smoking may ensure SARS will not infect you," stated one advertisement.

Meanwhile, the regional airlines are reporting a steady drop in passenger numbers, forcing some of them to cut flight frequencies. Because of the SARS scare, most people who wanted to go to HK, China and Singapore have cancelled their bookings.

"It's the fear of SARS that's forcing expatriates to cancel their vacation plans," a travel agency executive said. "Passenger loads have been dropping by the hour, especially of airlines serving the SARS-affected and other destinations."

As a result, many airlines have cut back their scheduled flights to affected nations.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin