SARS not stopping Nevada missions

Friday, April 18, 2003 | 11:27 a.m.

Nevada officials say the deadly severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak in Asia won't stop planned tourism and trade missions.

The Nevada Commission on Tourism plans tourism-building campaigns in Japan and China next week. A Commission on Economic Development tour to Hong Kong and China in June is still planned.

Bruce Bommarito, executive director of the Commission on Tourism, will meet in Tokyo Monday with Commerce Secretary Donald Evans and members of an international working group assigned to stimulate tourism.

Bommarito also plans to go to China April 28 to sign a no-cost agreement with HiGreen Investment & Management Co. Ltd. to represent Nevada's tourism interests in China.

Meanwhile, Alan Di Stefano, director of global trade and investment for the Commission on Economic Development, said he is still planning an economic development tour with 13 Nevada business people in June.

Di Stefano said he is updated daily on SARS and other factors that could affect the trip, but he said it is still being planned.

"There are many variables that are beyond our control and we always reserve the right to make a change, but right now, we're still planning for it," Di Stefano said.