In considering the impact of the swine flu epidemic on tourism in the United States and Central/South America, it is necessary to have an idea of how trade is affected the American regions. Due to the fear of the recent swine flu outbreaks in both the United States and Central/South America, government advisories against travel have participated in the decline of the economic vibrancy of the tourism market (Beittel et al, 2009).
During a disease outbreak, it is recommended that governments avoid trade bans and allow private citizens to make choices about their own travel and purchases after having received informed health notifications (Marsh et al, 2005). Individuals have the ability to make personal decisions regarding their own vaccinations, social distancing, and hygiene (Larson et al, 2009). Although there is no current vaccine against the swine flu, it is possible that regular flu immunizations can prevent the contraction of various types of influenza (WHO, 2009).
In an effort to study the effects of acquiring regular influenza immunizations on consumer travel confidence during influenza outbreaks, a survey has been developed to be randomly distributed to willing travelers at airports across the United States and Central/South America. At random stations in airports across the United States and Central/South America, a research study will be conducted with contracted airport authorization and voluntary contracted adult participants who will fill out a survey focusing on demographic information, personal vaccine practices, and travel confidence measures.
The collected data will be used to provide a detailed picture of travelers’ origins and destinations and the health practices of individuals in regard to their feelings of travel confidence. In looking to the results of this study, it is hoped that the tourism industry will benefit from knowing the details about whether or not the acquiring of regular vaccinations aids in particular traveler confidence. Examples of survey questions include and are not limited to: What is your travel origin? Very Confident The larger the sample of participants and the longer the study is conducted, the more valid the results will be, and it is the aim of this research project to interview no less than 10,000 adult travelers in the United States and Central/South America over the course of several years.
The results of this study are expected to demonstrate that individuals in the United States and Central/South America are more willing to travel during influenza outbreaks after having received regular influenza vaccinations. Economists advise that the economic benefits of having developed societies with low rates of viral outbreaks far outweigh the costs of influenza vaccinations (Bloom et al, 2005). Business can only benefit from the activity of healthy and confident individuals. Overall health sector strengthening in the area of infectious disease bears fruit in the economic development of regions (MacKellar, 2007).
The more healthy people are, the more active and confident people will be. The longer that diseases are unnoticed or ignored by the population, the more difficult outbreaks are controlled by human intervention (Dato et al, 2006). It is wise for both individuals and the tourism industry to acknowledge the benefits of having people acquire influenza vaccinations. If there is a possibility that influenza vaccinations can prevent other influenza outbreaks, then individuals and businesses can gain confidence by knowing that they are more adequately protected against contracting a viral infection.
The economics of knowing that travelers can journey without fear is a boon to individuals, the tourism industry, and international business in general.
References
Beittel, J. & Sullivan, M. (2009). Mexico-U. S. Relations: Issues for Congress. Congressional Research Service. Bloom, D. , Canning, D. , & Weston, M. (2005). The Value of Vaccination. World Economics 6(3), 15-39. Dato, V. , Shephard, R. , & Wagner, M. (2006). Outbreaks and Investigations. Handbook of Biosurveillance. Academic Press. Larson, L. & Nigmatulina, K.
(2009). Living with Influenza: Impacts of government imposed and voluntarily selected interventions. European Journal of Operational Research 195(2), 613-627. MacKellar, L. (2007). Pandemic Influenza: A Review. Population and Development Review 33(3), 429-451. Marsh, T. , Suyambulingam, T. , & Wahl, T. (2005). World Trade Organization Impacts on U. S. Farm Policy. Southern Regional Trade Research Committee. Swine Influenza. (2009). Weekly Epidemiological Record 18(84), 149–160. World Health Organization.