UN agency seeks to boost tourism to tsunami-hit nations

Seeking to avoid a new “infodemic,” a repeat of the slump in Asian tourism from the SARS health crisis two years ago, the United Nations tourism agency has called on the world’s media to take care in its coverage of destinations hit by the Indian Ocean tsunami so as not to slow the recovery of an important economic sector.

“The best way to help the Indian Ocean destinations, in particular Sri Lanka, Maldives, Thailand and Indonesia, is to encourage tourists to return,” World Tourism Organization (WTO) Secretary-General Francesco Frangialli said.

“Saturation coverage of the tragedy in the most damaged areas can lead to a certain level of misunderstanding among consumers,” he added, especially when around 80 per cent of hotels and resorts in these destinations remain fully operational.

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