| Home > Resources > Leadership > Executive Summary > Case Studies Case Study 2003, Fearing SARS, New Yorkers Avoid Chinatown Despite the fact that the number of potential SARS cases in New York City was few during the 2003 outbreak, fear of the disease kept many people away from the usually bustling Chinatown neighborhood. Acting on the presumption that Chinatown residents and merchants traveled back and forth frequently to Asia and therefore posed a greater risk for transmitting SARS, New York City residents and tourists avoided Chinatown in an effort to protect themselves. Local businesses felt the impact; in late April 2003, nearly 2 months after the disease was first identified in Asia, 84% of surveyed Chinatown businesses reported a drop in business because of the SARS crisis. Many proprietors reported drops of 30% or more. Restaurants, grocers and the garment industry suffered, but travel agencies were the hardest hit -- some nearly went out of business.
Reference Asian American Business Development Council. "Double Impact: Chinatown Businesses Still Struggling from the Impact of September 11th only to be Hit Again with the SARS Crisis." April 28, 2003. Accessed online 4/29/03. |
