United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Agents major source of health advice
More than one in ten travellers asks their travel agent for travel health advice.
This is according to research unveiled by GlaxoSmithKline Travel Health.
The company revealed figures that suggest 12% of travellers ask agents about precautions when travelling to high risk malaria countries, compared to 13% who go to pharmacists.
But according to ABTA spokeswoman, Frances Tuke, agents should be wary about handing out advice.“Travellers should always then be directed to their GP, practice nurse or pharmacist for specialist advice. It is in everyone’s best interests to ensure holidaymakers seek travel health advice prior to travelling to countries with a high risk of malaria.”
According to figures released by GlaxoSmithKline, 21% of travellers take no precautions to protect themselves against malaria,with 43% of these travellers mistakenly believing they didn’t need to take precautions against the disease – 24% believing that staying in four or five star hotels would mean they would be unlikely to contract malaria.
The company is sponsoring Malaria Awareness Week, which runs next week, on May 16-22.
The campaign, supported by ABTA, aims to raise awareness of the disease, which killed 16 people in the UK in 2003, double the number killed by the disease in 2002.
The campaign culminates in an exhibition at the Natural History Museum in London on May 15-18, which gives people information about the disease and how to avoid it.
Report by Ginny McGrath
Ginny McGrath
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
Robert Terrell: A Journey Through BB King’s Influence
Rochelle Hicks: Celebrating Mississippi’s Musical Legacy
Exploring Jacksonville with Katie Mitura: The Flip Side of Florida
Boy falls to death on cruise ship
Dozens fall ill in P&O Cruises ship outbreak
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Woman dies after going overboard in English Channel