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| Tourists divided over flu threat | Tourists divided over flu threat |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Rajesh Mirchandani BBC News, Cancun | Rajesh Mirchandani BBC News, Cancun |
| Charter companies are providing extra flights home for tourists | Charter companies are providing extra flights home for tourists |
| Some British tourists in Mexico are cutting short their holidays, amid growing concerns about the spread of swine flu. Every year several thousand visit the resort of Cancun, where reactions to the virus among British tourists are varied. | Some British tourists in Mexico are cutting short their holidays, amid growing concerns about the spread of swine flu. Every year several thousand visit the resort of Cancun, where reactions to the virus among British tourists are varied. |
| "We felt we ought to leave because other people were leaving", said one woman from the Midlands as she hauled a large bag from the pavement towards the terminal building at Cancun airport. | "We felt we ought to leave because other people were leaving", said one woman from the Midlands as she hauled a large bag from the pavement towards the terminal building at Cancun airport. |
| A group of young men, travelling back to Gatwick, said they had been disturbed by the mood at home. | A group of young men, travelling back to Gatwick, said they had been disturbed by the mood at home. |
| "When I spoke to my family and watched the news channels I got really worried", said one. | "When I spoke to my family and watched the news channels I got really worried", said one. |
| "I got a cold here", said another, dressed in an England football shirt, "and I panicked. I got it checked out and it was fine but obviously it puts a damper on your holiday". | "I got a cold here", said another, dressed in an England football shirt, "and I panicked. I got it checked out and it was fine but obviously it puts a damper on your holiday". |
| A man with a young family summed up their reason for returning early: "I was worried for the kids." | A man with a young family summed up their reason for returning early: "I was worried for the kids." |
| For hundreds of British tourists, the holiday ended before it was supposed to. Coaches run by their tour company, Thomson, ferried them from their hotels to the airport for specially arranged flights. | For hundreds of British tourists, the holiday ended before it was supposed to. Coaches run by their tour company, Thomson, ferried them from their hotels to the airport for specially arranged flights. |
| In a statement, Thomson said its customers were its number one priority. | In a statement, Thomson said its customers were its number one priority. |
| These were the ones who had opted to go home early. Few more will replace them soon. Major tour companies have cancelled flights to the area until the end of next week. | These were the ones who had opted to go home early. Few more will replace them soon. Major tour companies have cancelled flights to the area until the end of next week. |
| Cancun's economy relies on tourists | Cancun's economy relies on tourists |
| Those who stay away will miss sparkling turquoise seas and golden sands, attractions that draw thousands here every year from all over the world, housed in dozens of high-rise hotels strung along a narrow isthmus between a lagoon and the Caribbean Sea. | Those who stay away will miss sparkling turquoise seas and golden sands, attractions that draw thousands here every year from all over the world, housed in dozens of high-rise hotels strung along a narrow isthmus between a lagoon and the Caribbean Sea. |
| Tourism generates 70% of Cancun's income. But since the swine flu outbreak first hit the headlines last week, hotel occupancy rates have dropped from around 80% to barely 50%. | Tourism generates 70% of Cancun's income. But since the swine flu outbreak first hit the headlines last week, hotel occupancy rates have dropped from around 80% to barely 50%. |
| Locals are more likely to worry about the economy than their health. | Locals are more likely to worry about the economy than their health. |
| In fact, if you look around you'll see very few people wearing masks. In this city that lies some 800 miles from the capital Mexico City, fears about swine flu seem far away. | In fact, if you look around you'll see very few people wearing masks. In this city that lies some 800 miles from the capital Mexico City, fears about swine flu seem far away. |
| So the worries of the British tourists who were leaving early seem not to be reflected in local people. Although, some of the departees were suspicious of that. | So the worries of the British tourists who were leaving early seem not to be reflected in local people. Although, some of the departees were suspicious of that. |
| "The Mexican people here want you to believe that", said the young man in the England shirt, "they want us to stay here and spend money". | "The Mexican people here want you to believe that", said the young man in the England shirt, "they want us to stay here and spend money". |
| The man in the England shirt was missing not only a week of his holiday, but also the football match screened in the (obligatory) Irish pub Pat O'Briens. | The man in the England shirt was missing not only a week of his holiday, but also the football match screened in the (obligatory) Irish pub Pat O'Briens. |
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| UK tourists abandon Mexico trips | |
| A handful of Brits were watching - normally there would be many more. But these were the ones who had not been frightened off and many thought the fears had been exaggerated. | A handful of Brits were watching - normally there would be many more. But these were the ones who had not been frightened off and many thought the fears had been exaggerated. |
| "So many people now have been reported as having been cured that I'm not worried about it at all", said a Scottish man, while a man from St Albans said "people are being alarmist". | "So many people now have been reported as having been cured that I'm not worried about it at all", said a Scottish man, while a man from St Albans said "people are being alarmist". |
| His girlfriend said she was not worried because "you could just as easily catch it from being on the plane flying home, as from walking around going to bars or even sunbathing". | His girlfriend said she was not worried because "you could just as easily catch it from being on the plane flying home, as from walking around going to bars or even sunbathing". |
| The spread of swine flu is unpredictable. It's clear reactions to it are too. | The spread of swine flu is unpredictable. It's clear reactions to it are too. |