Swine Flu Affecting Local Travel Agents

The swine flu outbreak is also making waves across the travel industry…..

….as many people start reconsidering that mexican vacation.

“It’s getting kind of scary…that’s why I don’t know if I’m going to be able to go or not, ” Ruben Flores, walked into Sun Travel Wednesday afternoon with a lot of questions for his travel agent about his upcoming trip to Mexico.

“I plan to go next month at the end of the month if it’s possible. That’s why I came here to see if it’s feasible,” said Flores.

In light of the swine flu, the U.S. State Department and the Centers for Disease Control have issued a warning against any non-essential travel to Mexico.

A move that could really hurt an already struggling tourism industry in the country.

” Even prior to the swine flu, the violence down there and the drug wars going on has impacted travel as well, couldn’t have come at a worst time for the folks in Mexico,” said Paul Coleman, President of Sun Travel.

He said it’s also bad timing since travel is very affordable right now, “There’s some amazing deals out there. If people are wanting to travel there’s been no better time than since 9-11.”

He says so far he’s had no cancellations caused by fear of swine flu, “There are some who have opted to if they were scheduled to travel to Mexico to go to the Caribbean the Bahamas instead.”

Coleman said more than anything people just want to know their options, “Can they cancel, can they make changes. How long do they have to make those decisions and a lot of that information really varies.”

Coleman adds travelers should consider buying travel insurance when booking their trips for situations such as this.