MGTO studies implementing travel warning system

Helena de Senna Fernandes

The Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) is conducting an internal study on the implementation of a travel warning system similar to that of Hong Kong, MGTO’s director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes said yesterday on the sidelines of a press conference.
Ms Fernandes clarified that the Macau Tourism Crisis Management Office (GGCT) issued travel recommendations to Macau citizens after cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in South Korea continued to rise, but the department does not have a formal travel warning system in place.
According to the MGTO director, the government is considering whether to introduce a travel alert system, as local travel operators and insurance companies have reported difficulties in solving cases in which Macau residents acquire travel packages in neighboring Hong Kong.
“We are studying the implementation of a system because our travel industry and insurance companies believe that if we have a system similar to that of Hong Kong, they could introduce other mechanisms to deal with this type of situation. Because [in Hong Kong] there are different insurance packages for different travel warning levels,” she told reporters.
The HKSAR’s Security Bureau operates a three-level Outbound Travel Alert system (OTA), comprising of a yellow alert (signs of threat), a red alert (significant threat) and a black alert (severe threat).
Hong Kong issued a “red alert” advisory on Tuesday against non-essential travel to South Korea.
On Monday, Macau’s Health Bureau  (SSM) announced that it would be raising its MERS response level from a “standard alert” to “a high-level alert.” Meanwhile, GGCT issued a statement advising Macau residents not to travel to South Korea unless it was absolutely necessary.
“We do not have a formal travel alert system yet. What we have is a press release issuing system, through which we release information when needed. What we are discussing is whether to implement a system like that of Hong Kong, with different colors and levels,” said Ms Fernandes.
She recalled, however, that there are different opinions on the subject, with some believing that having a similar system would work best for the Macau travel industry and insurance companies. Others however, believe that there could be a need for different alert levels between the two cities depending on the situation.
Ms Fernandes added that the system could be implemented either through legislation, or like a typhoon signal system.
Meanwhile, the Health Bureau said yesterday that another suspected MERS case tested negative, this time involving a 30-year-old Korean woman who had recently been to South Korea. While she did have a fever, lab results tested negative for MERS.