The Limited Times

Now you can see non-English news...

Coronavirus: Federal Foreign Office warns vacationers about travel - how serious is the situation?

2020-02-02T09:56:07.860Z


The number of infections and deaths from the corona virus is increasing faster. The World Health Organization declares the emergency to coordinate measures.


The number of infections and deaths from the corona virus is increasing faster. The World Health Organization declares the emergency to coordinate measures.

  • The Federal Foreign Office advises against traveling to China because of the rapid spread of lung disease.
  • Infections and deaths saw the biggest increase in one day until Friday.
  • After the spread of the new lung disease in China, several German tour operators are taking consequences. Customers can rebook or cancel upcoming trips.

The Federal Foreign Office advises postponing unnecessary travel

The number of patients with the novel coronavirus rose to 9,692 around 1981, as reported by the Health Commission in Beijing. The death toll rose to 213. On Thursday evening, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the spread of the virus a " health emergency of international importance ". The 190 member countries will coordinate the crisis measures recommended by the WHO.

Germans should refrain from traveling to China . "If possible, postpone unnecessary trips to China," says new travel information from the Federal Foreign Office. We explicitly warn against visiting the severely affected Hubei province. Even more clearly, the US government called on its citizens to stop traveling to China. Americans in China should also consider leaving the country. The US travel advice for China has been raised to the highest of four warning levels: "Do not travel." Many airlines, including Lufthansa, have already suspended their flights to China.

Cruise companies are also reacting to the spread of the corona virus and increasingly canceling cruises.

Federal Foreign Office travel recommendations in detail

The Federal Foreign Office in Berlin advised to postpone unnecessary trips to the affected areas . Warnings about trips to Hubei Province.

In general, considerable restrictions on mobility within China can currently be expected. The pathogen has now appeared in almost every province or region in the country. The site says: "Since December 2019, cases of lung disease have occurred in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, which are likely related to visiting a local poultry and fish market. An infection with a novel coronavirus ( 2019-nCoV) . The number of cases is currently increasing significantly and deaths have occurred. The disease is spreading further in China. "

The Federal Foreign Office recommends travelers :

  • Warnings about trips to Hubei Province.

  • Register in the crisis preparedness list.

  • Include the restrictions mentioned in your travel planning and check for an early departure if necessary.

  • If possible, postpone unnecessary trips to China.

  • Follow the instructions given by the local security forces.

  • Get vaccinated against influenza before traveling with the current Northern Hemisphere vaccine. An influenza vaccination can help to avoid unnecessary suspected cases.

  • Observe the information in the nCoV leaflet and on the websites of the World Health Organization WHO and the Robert Koch Institute RKI.

Read here : Can't cancel? Airline has to reimburse airfare.

Corona virus and its effects on tourism

China is rather a small market for German organizers. The German Travel Association (DRV) pointed out that around 600,000 to 650,000 Germans travel to the country every year . About two thirds of these are business travelers.

Guests from China are of greater importance for tourism in Germany . According to the latest data, around 3 million overnight stays by Chinese travelers in hotels, guest houses and other accommodations between Rügen and Garmisch-Partenkirchen were counted in 2018. This placed them 12th in the ranking of foreign tourists. The main travel season is the summer months.

"The high spending behavior of the Chinese with a turnover of six billion euros in 2018 reflects the economic importance for retail and the tourism and leisure industry in Germany, " said Petra Hedorfer, chairwoman of the board of the German National Tourist Board (GNTB). According to the GNTB, Munich, Frankfurt, Berlin and Cologne are at the top of the popularity scale for Chinese.

The consequences of the travel restrictions depend on how they are further developed and how long they remain in force. According to the information, group and package tours abroad with departure dates from Monday (January 27) have been canceled.

Read here : Five cost traps on vacation that you didn't know yet.

Coronavirus: What Tui customers who have booked a trip to China need to know

Tui customers who have planned a trip to China within the next two weeks can rebook free of charge to another travel date, as the German industry leader announced on Monday. According to Tui, Tui currently has only a few guests in the country. The main travel season is summer. "We are still in contact with the authorities and are closely monitoring the situation," said a spokeswoman.

Coronavirus: What SER tourism customers who have booked a trip to China need to know

DER Touristik offers free cancellations and rebookings for trips to China with a departure date until March 31. The tour operator brands Dertour, Meiers Weltreisen and ADAC Reisen have the Middle Kingdom in their program. There are currently almost three figures in the country. They would be kept up to date with text messages and notices in the hotels, DER Touristik explained. Watch the situation closely.

Coronavirus: What FTI customers who have booked a trip to China need to know

According to the organizer, FTI Group guests can rebook or cancel trips with a departure date up to and including February 21 free of charge.

Coronavirus: What Studiosus customers who have booked a trip to China need to know

Studiosus meanwhile canceled trips to the country until April 15, 2020 inclusive . "Against the background of a continuing deterioration in the situation and the tightening of travel advice from the Federal Foreign Office, we currently see no way of making planned trips to China," said the provider on his website. A rapid relaxation is not expected.

Studiosus currently has no guests in China. The next trip should start on March 15th. China guests with a departure by May 31st can change or cancel free of charge .

Also interesting : How to get your costs back after the flight cancellation.

dpa / sca

You should pay attention to these things on the plane

To the photo gallery

List of rubric lists: © picture alliance / Erika Kinetz / AP / dpa

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2020-02-02

You may like

News/Politics 2024-03-07T16:45:59.823Z

Trends 24h

News/Politics 2024-03-28T06:04:53.137Z

Latest

© Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.
The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.