Picture of an empty beach in Cancun, Mexico, on May 11, 2009. Hotels on Mexico's Caribbean coast on Tuesday offered free vacations for three years to any tourist catching swine flu while on holiday there, in a bid to counter swine flu's blow to the industry.
(AFP/File/Marte Rebollar)
Free holidays offered to tourists who catch swine flu in Mexicohttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-1181200/Free-holidays-years-offered-tourists-catch-swine-flu-Mexico.htmlTourists are being offered free holidays for three years if they catch swine flu on Mexico's Caribbean coast in a bid to lure business back to the country.
The outbreak of the H1N1 virus has killed 63 people worldwide and sparked fears of a global pandemic - as well as seriously denting tourism to the region.
As a result of dwindling tourism, a group of three hotel chains located on Mexico's Caribbean coast - Real Resorts, Dreams and Secrets, offering a total of 5,000 rooms - have made the bold move.
Fernando Garcia, director of Real Resorts said: 'The 'flu-free guarantee' assures three years of free holidays to travellers who present flu symptoms eight days after returning from their trip.'
The pledge - which would also call on US authorities to lift a non-essential travel ban - hopes to restore confidence in Mexico as one of the world's top tourist hotspots.
The Mexico Tourism Board has just announced an investment plan worth almost £58 million, which will include an international PR campaign.