Once again this week the outbreak of Coronavirus affecting China and other countries has dominated national media headlines. This is generating a lot of consumer questions as well as logistical issues and costs for ABTA Members, especially cruise operators and their agents who have been exceptionally busy contacting customers whose travel plans have had to be changed to follow the latest travel advice.

To ensure that the latest information is available to Members, ABTA’s Destinations team has been engaging with multiple government and industry bodies such as the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and Public Health England, and this enables us to update our Member guidance with the very latest advice. As well as checking this link I would also encourage Members to follow our Operational Bulletins, which will include any new relevant information as it comes to light. 

We also have advice for customers, which can be found at abta.com/coronavirus and we are keeping this regularly updated. It includes a helpful Q&A based on the many calls we have had from people yet to travel which will help make customers aware of the facts and their rights.

Whilst there has been a lot of attention on leisure travel, the impact of restrictions on travel to China for business travel is also significant. This will surely be a hot topic at next week’s Business Travel Show (26-27 February), which ABTA is attending. Please come and meet the team at stand B2304 if you are planning to visit the show.

Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive