Norwegian tour operators are allowing pregnant women to cancel or re-book trips, free of charge, to countries plagued by the new zika virus. Both Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) and Norwegian Air are offering the same.
“We of course don’t want anyone to be afraid to travel on holiday with us,” Beatriz Rivera, PR and communications chief for tour operator Apollo, told Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK). “If you’re pregnant and don’t want to go ahead with your trip, we’ll do what we can to help.” She said travelers can get full refunds for otherwise non-refundable tickets, or switch to different destinations.
Star Tour and Ving are also among those bending their own rules because of the zika virus, which can cause brain damage and deformities in newborns. The tour companies aren’t making any major changes, though, in their travel destinations.
US health officials are recommending against travel for pregnant women to 14 countries and areas in Latin America because of the virus, including Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, French Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuela and Puerto Rico.
newsinenglish.no staff
