Before the 2019-nCoV virus spreads, the precautionary measures intensify. In a press release published on Tuesday, February 4, the Syndicate of Tour Operators (Seto) indicated that it was recommending to its 70 or so members (including TUI France, Voyageurs du Monde, Kuoni and Costa Croisières) the suspension until March 31 package travel (flight and accommodation) of its customers for China. At the end of January, the Seto recommended a suspension of departures until February 21.
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China hit by epidemic in low tourist season
Les Entreprises du Voyage, which is the interlocutor of public authorities for the tourism sector, told AFP to make the same recommendations. "In total, this represents approximately 3000 scheduled departures" of French travelers over the period, said Jean-Pierre Mas, president of this federation. He underlines the fact that "we are in low season, and moreover China is a destination which was less successful because of the difficulties of obtaining visas" . Since July 2019, French people must register their fingerprints with an authorized center in order to obtain a visa.
No restrictions for other Asian countries
The Seto specifies that the tour operators will have to offer several options to their customers, such as “modifications without charge or postponements without charge to a later date . [...] Concerning the other Asian destinations , no travel restriction is imposed and the tour operators continue to operate the programs while ensuring the conditions of safety and comfort of their customers " , specifies T -he.
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Faced with a drop in demand, several airlines have suspended their routes to China. This is the case of Air France, which no longer operates flights to Shanghai and Beijing until February 9 inclusive, and to Wuhan until February 29. In Europe, British Airways and Lufthansa have also suspended their service to China. Several countries, including Singapore and the United States, are closing their borders to people who have recently traveled to mainland China or to Hubei province, home of the epidemic.
