I wanted to share am email I got form Yellowdog Fly Fishing. It shares some of the same feelings I have.
From Jim Klug of Yellowdog Fly Fishing Adventures, Bozeman MT, USA
Hello from Bozeman,
As is the case with every lodge, agent and travel provider, we at Yellow Dog have been dealing with a very large number of calls, concerns and cancellations this week – all pertaining to the swine flu issue. While we are working hard to accommodate our concerned customers with regards to information, options and even rebookings, we are also doing everything we can to calm and dilute this panic by providing our customers with a steady stream of facts and information. Like everyone in the travel, lodging, outfitting and destination retail sectors of the industry, we are hoping that this situation will pass quickly.
I wanted to pass along an article that was sent to me by my father, himself in the hotel and resort business in Colorado. It is a great article written by a gentleman named Glenn Haussman. He makes some excellent points about the flu and the “imminent world-wide pandemic,” and I have been sharing this article with all Yellow Dog clients who are scheduled to travel in the near future. I find his words to be very straightforward and realistic, and I am happy to pass them along.
The media are doing their best to sensationalize a news story that, when taken in context, isn’t that big of a deal. Here’s the truth.
Thursday, April 30, 2009 – Glenn Haussman
So are we supposed to panic? Quite frankly, I am inclined not to. But the media onslaught of the last few days has created a situation where panic seems like it’s the only option. After all, the hyper-paced 24-hour news monster needs to be fed. And swine flu seems to be quite the tasty meal.
Just like Audrey II from Little Shop of Horrors, news channels are constantly pleading “Feed me, Seymour.” The end result is that, on new channels such as CNN and MSNBC, there’s a great deal of hype surrounding something that may or may not actually be the start of a real health crisis.
Unfortunately for the travel industry, the reality of The Great Swine Flu Pandemic Panic (my catchy news phrase, feel free to use it) may have widespread effects on travel during the next few weeks. As people continue to freak out, which in my experience they are inclined to do, they will let the irrational side of their brain make bad decisions, such as cancelling that upcoming trip.
Now I wouldn’t recommend taking a trip to the heart of Mexico City at the moment, since that’s where this outbreak seems to have started. That doesn’t seem to be necessary. But the thought of putting the kibosh on a business trip or vacation because of photos of airplanes being cleaned and some people feeling under the weather is so anathema to me, I simply can’t imagine doing it.
Of course I don’t represent the typical American, so what I do is basically irrelevant. What I do know, however, is that the average American is ready to lap up whatever the media dishes out. My greatest concern is that widespread fear and an inability to see past headlines designed to sell newspapers and keep people watching Fox News will result in an orgy of trip cancellations. It’s the last thing the travel and hotel industries need right now…especially as there are clear signals the downturn is finally abating and reservations are picking up.
It strikes me as especially odd how Americans seem to flock to sensationalistic news stories without bothering to worry about context or reality. As of this morning there were about 160 cases of the swine flu and one death – a toddler from Mexico. While that many cases could be interpreted as a lot, there are 300 million people here in the country.
Fact: According to the Center for Disease Control there are on average 36,000 deaths annually from the typical seasonal flu. That’s right, 36,000 people die in the U.S. every year from flu bugs! Worldwide its between 250,000 to 300,000.
So if we’re going to be hell bent on panicking for a handful of domestic cases, then shouldn’t we just lock ourselves in our homes from October to April for fear of catching an illness that wipes out so many people every year? Of course the answer is no, because you simply cannot waste your life away worrying about these things.
Of course not. It’s the same thought as never getting into a car again because the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 2008 fatalities in motor vehicle traffic crashes are estimated to be 37,313. That’s a lot of people that perished, but from the amount of traffic I get stuck in I don’t see many people walking to work (which ironically I do!).
Truth is, no one is going to look out for your interest. Government officials are too worried about getting reelected in 2010 to tell the truth, and the average citizen is easily swept up with news media sensationalism. So it’s up to you.”
