Rick Steves, Arthur Frommer & Others

[Packerjohn]

I'm no medical doctor but I'm rather confused after reading the travel section of our local paper. It seems that all the big travel companies expect business to go back to the way things were before the present virus panic. Here is where I am confused. The original Cornovirus started in China & it was spread by people traveling. If people did not travel, the original virus would have stayed in China. With jet flight, virus can spread anywhere in the world within 24 hours. My problem in understanding is this: If we go back to "business as usual" (people jetting around for 1 week "sun & sin" holidays, cruise ships with 5,000 passengers plus), isn't it just a matter of time until we get another pandemic virus? Ya, I know we can't go back to "horse & buggy" days but with an explosion in population around the planet, more huge cruise ships being built & more & more people traveling for fun, isn't it just a matter of time until the next virus hits us? I wonder if some changes might be made so we don't have to go through what we are suffering with at the present time in another, say 18 months from now? What do you think?

 

[Em in Ohio]

Got a cruise brochure three weeks after I became unemployed. Since it was the biggy on my bucket list of things I haven't done, I was close to signing up. Now, no way! If the government bails out this big buck industry, I think you are right - it will keep happening.