Don't feel guilty over your holiday (From Warrington Guardian)

Don't feel guilty over your holiday

A HARTFORD woman who was caught in the Asian tsunami disaster is urging holidaymakers to return to the region.

Former Sir John Deane's College student Vicki Hunt had a lucky escape when she was trapped in a whirlpool as she was diving off the coast of the Maldives.

Vicki, who works as a reception manager at a five-star resort called Full Moon, escaped uninjured.

She has remained in the Maldives to help get things back to normal.

But the 29-year-old said that, although the situation was rapidly improving, many people had cancelled their holidays to the region, even as far into the future as April.

Vicki, who has been working abroad for five years, said: "People are afraid for their own safety and comfort.

"This terrible incident was a freak event, which could have happened anywhere, and the chances of it being repeated are fortunately so remotely small as to be almost impossible."

She said she had heard that some people were cancelling their holidays because of feelings of guilt, or because they felt it was inappropriate to enjoy a holiday in a region that has been so badly damaged.

She said: "While we understand these feelings, sadly they are misplaced.

"For the Maldives to survive this tragedy, for people to rebuild homes, schools and families, they are totally dependent upon the tourism industry.

"So many people have asked me how they can help the beautiful Maldivian people, and my answer is simply to come and share this paradise on earth.

"Without a return of the tourists, the loss which has already been encountered will be multiplied many times over."

rbabington@guardiangrp.co.uk