What a man-made disaster in Iraq did to the Gulf's tourism industry, an unknown disease, SARS, is doing the same to Far East's tourism and aviation industry, regional officials of international carriers, said.

"In fact, the effect of SARS on Far East's aviation is worst than that of the Iraq War here," said an airline official. "Seat load factors are falling like anything and people are more scared to fly Far East, especially to Hong Kong and Shanghai, than that to the Gulf a month ago."

If the disease continues to spread as it has been since its outbreak a few weeks ago ......
Read more on Gulf News