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Virus hits UK tourism
LONDON, England -- The foot-and-mouth virus is helping to kill off Britain's holiday trade in the run-up to Easter, officials say. The British Tourist Authority says it fears that domestic and international holiday-makers are being put off travelling in the country after wide swathes of countryside were declared off limits. The highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease causes blisters only in cloven-hoofed livestock, such as pigs, cattle, sheep and goats. The disease has little or no effect on humans but it is easily spread on people's clothing, on vehicle tyres, as well as by the wind. The government has imposed "no go" areas in the countryside, closing footpaths, in an effort to keep the lid on the spread of the disease. And sporting events, like the prestigious Cheltenham horse racing festival and rugby internationals, have been postponed. The tourist industry, which contributes four times as much in value to the British economy compared to farming -- and employs four times as many people -- says it is facing a major blow. "We are very concerned about what the foot-and-mouth outbreak is doing to Britain's reputation overseas," said Philippa Swaine of the British Tourist Authority. "Overseas visitors bring in about £13 billion ($19 billion) every year to this country, and if our reputation is tarnished by this, it will have a serious effect on the industry." Rural tourism should be worth about £150 million a week at this time of year, but business is up to 75 percent down. In contrast, the cost to farming since the outbreak three weeks ago, has been estimated at less than £30 million. Unlike farmers, hoteliers and others employed in the tourist industry, will not receive compensation from the government. Judith Watson of the Association of British Travel Agents, said: "I think the main thing is for people overseas to realise there's a huge amount for people overseas to see and do in the UK: Cathedrals, castles, the cities are all unaffected." UK: 'Leper of Europe'Agricultural ministers have said the foot-and-mouth outbreak is under control, despite pictures of carcasses piled up and waiting to be burnt or carried off to an incinerator. Agriculture Minister Nick Brown maintained that his country's measures to contain the disease, including a ban on livestock movement, was working. But the ministry has been criticised by the Irish Government for its alleged "poor management" and "poor leadership" in handling the matter. The Irish Government has called the British government's handling of the crisis "scandalous." British farmers like Trevor Cligg say they had lost faith in the government. "I have been annoyed to hear Nick Brown saying everything on the ground is organised and under control when it is patently obvious it is not," said Cligg, who runs an organic farm in Devon. The Irish Republic has deployed troops on its border with Northern Ireland to help man checkpoints in the fight to stop the disease spreading from UK farms. Economists have estimated the potential combined losses to Ireland from reduced export revenues and knock-on effects could cut up to 2 percent off the country's gross domestic product. In an increasingly fractious atmosphere of blame, the opposition Conservative Party said the army should be brought in to try and rid the countryside of the contaminated carcasses. Conservative agricultural spokesman Tim Yeo said the country was "certainly approaching a national emergency" and that other European countries -- which are still virus-free -- had been tougher. Britain has 172 confirmed cases, the worst day so far seeing 25 new cases on Sunday. The total number of animals facing slaughter is now 114,000 of which 82,000 have been killed. National Farmers' Union President Ben Gill said: "It is an emergency for farming and has been for some time." He criticised racecourses, some of which have decided to go ahead with meetings -- including Sandown Park in Surrey, southern England, where the Queen Mother was seen walking through disinfectant as a precautionary measure at the weekend. Gill said: "I think it is short-sighted to say the least." France and the Republic of Ireland have banned racing. CNN Correspondent Walter Rodgers and Reuters contributed to this report. RELATED STORIES:
Foot-and-mouth hits new high RELATED SITES:
British Horseracing Board |
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