Travel agents have an
"affirmative legal duty" to tell their clients about Zika virus, said
John Hawks, co-founder of the Destination Wedding and Honeymoon Specialists
Association (DWHSA).
During a webinar on Tuesday,
Hawks told agents they should share a link to the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention's travel notices.
The CDC in January advised
pregnant women to postpone travel to countries where the mosquito-borne virus has
been transmitted. That list has grown to over 30 countries and territories in
the Caribbean and Central and South America. There is a possibility that Zika
virus causes microcephaly (abnormally small heads and incomplete brain
development) in babies whose mothers got the virus while pregnant.
Hawks said agents should
retain a copy of whatever method (email is recommended) they use to share the
CDC’s information with clients to legally protect themselves in case a client contracts
Zika and tries to take legal action against the agent.
He urged agents to share only
facts about Zika, not their opinions. Any clients with medical questions about
traveling to a Zika-affected country should be referred to their physician,
Hawks stressed.
Agents should know what
their travel insurance vendors do and do not cover. They should also know how
preferred suppliers are handling Zika-related cancellation requests, and how
they are responding to the virus (for example, a hotel putting mosquito
repellent in guests’ rooms).
Rodrigo Esponda, U.S. regional
director for the Mexico Tourism Board, and Daniel Santiago Diaz, business
development manager for the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, also made webinar presentations.
Mexico tourism has
maintained that it is safe to travel to the country because the virus is
limited to remote locations not frequented by tourists. Mexico is on the CDC’s
Zika list.
On Friday, a map
representing where the cases have been found was released, which Esponda
included in his presentation.
Esponda told agents that
Mexico’s Zika cases have been found in eight of 32 states, in locations that
are “not even close” to popular tourist destinations.
“Out of those cases that
Mexico has had, we are taking [them] very seriously,” he said, adding that for
years Mexico has been working on eradicating the mosquitos that carry Zika.
That same mosquito carries dengue virus.
“We are really dedicated …
to take every measure to control and eradicate [Zika] not just in tourism
destinations, but in any major city or in any part of the country,” he said.
Speaking about pregnant travelers who don’t feel
comfortable visiting Mexico, Esponda said that is “perfectly right,” but that Mexico’s
goal is to educate consumers to make intelligent decisions about travel to the
country.
Similarly, Diaz said
Puerto Rico — which is also on the CDC’s Zika list— is taking the virus seriously.
After previous outbreaks of dengue, he said Puerto Rico is aware of how
difficult it is to fight such a virus.
He also noted that Puerto
Rico, as a U.S. territory, has the added support of the United States in
fighting the virus, and is working closely with the CDC.
Diaz directed agents to a
statement for consumers from the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, which says that
“as with all tropical locations and climates, mosquitoes are unavoidable, but
can be minimized.” It suggests visitors use mosquito repellent, wear
loose-fitting clothes, keep hotel windows and doors closed and screens locked
in place, and take extra precautions and always use repellent when mosquitos
are most prevalent, at dusk and dawn. It also directs those with further
questions to contact the CDC.
Hawks encouraged agents to
provide their clients with not only a link to the CDC for updated information
on the virus, but Esponda’s and Diaz’s presentations, as well.