Short-term economic impacts of influenza A (H1N1) and government reaction on the Mexican tourism industry: an analysis of the media

Abstract

Travel, tourism and epidemics are intrinsically linked. Although travel may significantly contribute to the actual paths an infection may take, the former may eventually become the victim of the latter. Past experiences have revealed that epidemic infections can have negative economic impact on the tourism industry. On the basis of the analysis of newspaper articles and other media reports, this paper aims to identify the short-term economic impacts of the influenza A (H1N1) epidemic on the Mexican tourism industry, with particular emphasis placed on the role of government overreaction. The study reveals that the hotel, restaurant and aviation industries were the most affected in Mexico during the first weeks of the outbreak. The impacts experienced by the industry were of an unprecedented nature and seem to have derived widely from international travel restrictions, the media's alarmist tones and government measures.