Opinions | City Talk
Residents vow to travel despite swine flu fears
Tighter budgets and swine flu fears are the two main talking points for residents when making their travel plans.
- By Mariam M. Al Serkal & Dina El Shammaa, Staff Reporters
- Published: 23:30 July 4, 2009
- Image Credit:
- I am taking a total of 30 days off, but for safety purposes I will isolate myself to make sure I do nothave swine flu, says Pamela Magalona.
Dubai/Abu Dhabi: Tighter budgets and swine flu fears are the two main talking points for residents when making their travel plans.
The majority of residents said they will not change their travel plans but will be sensible not to splurge the cash. At the same time they said they would listen to travel tips about swine flu.
City Talk took to the streets and asked residents if they were travelling for the summer or cutting back on expenses and staying at home.
And, if they were travelling, what precautions were they taking against swine flu.
Bardees Badr, public relations officer from Tanzania, 21, said: "I will be taking my holiday in December as I usually do because I like going back home in the winter. Tanzania has not been affected by swine flu yet, so I am not worried about taking any kind of precautions and it has never crossed my mind."
Mohammad Hegab, Egyptian senior project controller, 33, said: "I plan to travel either to Spain or Greece. I have read everything I need to know about swine flu and am aware of the affected countries. I will definitely fly with a flight that does check-ups on passengers boarding the flight. I searched the safety procedures of each airline on the internet and have seen what precautions airlines take against swine flu. Certain flights are in touch with the airport regarding medical check-ups. I also plan to buy a mask and wear it when I take public transportation. I believe the required masks are sold in the airport duty free."
Khalifa Al Hajiri, Emirati human resources officer, 23, said: "I am not going anywhere this summer because I just started a new job, but I will most likely be travelling in December. I was on a flight recently from Toronto when airport officials found that a passenger had swine flu and I'm still not worried about swine flu at all. What I am worried about is the airplane crashes that are happening lately."
Lea Cardenals, secretary from the Philippines, 30, said: "My expenses have been rising this year and I have to cut back a little and save up. I will be staying here this summer but might travel next summer if I have enough money saved."
Walid Tannoury, electro-mechanical engineer, 30, from Lebanon, said: "I am planning to travel to Paris and want to travel after Ramadan as well but am still not sure where to go yet. Regarding swine flu, if I want to take precautions against anything I would have stayed home and placed a bottle of detergent next to me. Thousands of people are taking precautions and still catch it. It is a minor disease and people are getting cured from it. Only a very small number of people are dying. There are far more important things in the world to think about."
Pamela Magalona, a Filipina, 33, said: "I am going to travel to the Philippines in August with my family, and have chosen to stay in quarantine for 15 days. I am taking a total of 30 days off, but for safety purposes I will isolate myself to make sure I do not have swine flu. That is the option the Filipino government is offering to travellers and I think it is very fair. I will also be wearing a mouth mask while in public places."
Asindiswa Manqamane, radiographer from South Africa, said: "I have just returned from a trip from South Africa. I was not worried because I do not like to be in crowded places in general, so when I was in the airport I kept myself isolated and stuck to my own corner. When I went shopping, I made sure it was in the early mornings so that it would be less crowded."
Christian Sibucao, a Filipino salesman, 24, said: "I am not travelling anywhere and will have to stay here with the heat and continue working. I am saving up because there are a lot of expenses when I have to travel, especially the airline ticket fare as the price keeps rising."
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