Mark Townsend
Sunday January 2, 2005
The Observer

Fewer than one in 400 British holidaymakers scheduled to visit countries affected by the tsunami have cancelled their trip, according to industry estimates.

Experts said the figures served to reinforce the reputation of Britain as a nation of inveterate travellers who were among the least fazed by international events.

So far only 'several hundred' of the estimated 215,000 UK holidaymakers planning to visit Thailand, Sri Lanka and the Maldives during the next three months have opted to stay away. This is despite most tour operators offering free cancellations to visitors who had booked throughout January, one of the region's busiest periods with around 80,000 people expected to visit the three countries. The initial response by holidaymakers to continue visiting affected countries, even if their original choice of destination is temporarily closed, has been described as overwhelming.

Analysts believe that only the outbreak of a disease epidemic could stall a full recovery for the tourist industry of the 'big three' - Thailand, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

Hardy British travellers refuse to cancel holidays, continued