With the new coronavirus outbreak already beginning to affect the global economy and sending stock markets tumbling, the University of Guelph has experts who can offer comment.
Prof. Marion Joppe, School of Hospitality, Food and Tourism Management, can discuss how fears over the new virus are impacting tourism around the world.
Joppe recently wrote a commentary for Conversation Canada about the impact of decisions to cancel flights in and out of China and ban entry to travellers from the country. She also noted that China is a key source of tourism to Canada, accounting for close to 800,000 arrivals, with travellers spending close to $3,000 per trip.
She said she expects “the economic impact of this coronavirus will be felt in every corner of the world and almost every sector of the economy.”
The Toronto Star recently spoke with Joppe for an article on the expected drop in tourism to China. She said she expects Chinese tourism will suffer more this time than it did during the SARS outbreak of 2003, because Beijing and Shanghai have become such significant travel hubs in recent years.
Joppe researches the economic, social and environmental impacts of the tourism industry. She has examined the policy, planning and marketing of destinations as well as questions surrounding various motivations for travel.
Prof Simon Somogyi, the Arrell Chair in the Business of Food, can discuss how travel bans and flight cancellations could impact Canadian food exports to China, including those that rely on air freight, such as fresh beef and lobster.
Somogyi is a member of U of G’s Arrell Food Institute and studies agri-food value chain management and agribusiness marketing management. He also examines food business sustainability and international market development, and is one of the co-authors of Canada’s Food Price Report.
Prof. Michael Von Massow, a food economist in the Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics (FARE) is able to discuss how the outbreak will impact food supply chains and commercial relationships, due to travel reductions from border closures and flight cancellations.
Von Massow studies structure and performance of food value chains, including how trade disputes and infectious disease outbreaks impact trade.
He also studies the economics of food demand in restaurant and retail, management science and operations, and pricing strategy.
Contact:
Prof. Marion Joppe
mjoppe@uoguelph.ca
Prof. Simon Somogyi
ssomogyi@uoguelph.ca
Prof. Mike von Massow
mvonmass@uoguelph.ca