[Dixielandjazz] Air Travel/SARS

[Kurt]

Travel to Canada may be restricted more because of fears caused by the
recent Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) virus.  Toronto was on the
SARS travel advisory list from May through July, 2003.  I know Cubs
broadcaster Ron Santo refused to travel with the team to Canada for that
reason.

SARS affects people with weak immune systems and as we know, many of these
people are older, and are likely the ones who travel to jazz festivals.

>From the Centers for Disease Control: SARS is a respiratory illness caused
by a novel coronavirus, called SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV). The
disease was first recognized in Asia in February 2003, and over the next
several months spread to more than two dozen countries in North and South
America, Europe, and Asia. In July, cases were no longer being reported, and
SARS outbreaks worldwide were considered contained. Additional information
about the SARS pandemic is available on the World Health Organization’s
(WHO) SARS website and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s
(CDC) SARS website.

Currently, no areas of the world are reporting ongoing transmission of SARS.
Travelers should be aware of their risk for communicable disease, such as
SARS, and stay informed about current travel alerts and advisories.
Information about travel alerts and advisories and CDC pre-travel health
advice can be found at www.cdc.gov/travel.

-----Original Message-----
From: dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com
[mailto:dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com]On Behalf Of Bill Gunter
Sent: Monday, December 15, 2003 11:25 AM
To: dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
Subject: RE: [Dixielandjazz] Air Travel


Hi Kaye,

You wrote:

>I've traveled extensively since 9-11 even 7 days after it.... Every
>plane has been sold out. I don't buy that excuse for canceling Victoria
>either.

For those who came in late, here is what was said in the announcement by the
Terrif-Vic Jazz Party directors:

-----> Start clip

"The revenue shortfall from the 2003 Jazz Party was caused largely by an
unexpected decrease in attendance from the United States due to a general
downturn in American travel after the outbreak of the U.S. war with Iraq.
The Society’s Board of Directors also expressed concern over the lack of
major sponsors to support the staging of the 2004 Jazz Party festival."

----> End clip

I wouldn't be too quick to discount this assessment. It may be there is some
connection to 9-11.  However, I believe there is more to be said about the
difficulties faced by jazz festivals today.  I noted this a few days back
when I posted the following on the DJML:

-----> Start clip

"As concerned musicians and fans we are going to have to come up with new
and innovative ways of keeping our music alive! I'm sure the events of 9-11
had an effect on travel to British Columbia last April but that is only a
small part of the problem. The main problem is that our audiences are
growing old and dying."

-----> End clip

Conclusion:

If we don't come up with more successful methods of attracting young people
to our events we are looking at the end of trad jazz festivals.

Respectfully submitted,

Bill Gunter
jazzboard at hotmail.com

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