No room at this Rotorua inn

A Rotorua backpackers has banned some overseas visitors because it fears the travellers could be Sars carriers.

The move came as the number of cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome worldwide reached more than 4470 in more than 20 countries, with 251 deaths.

The Little Village Backpackers at Whakarewarewa has a sign on its door asking those who have arrived from Hong Kong, China and Canada - the countries with the highest number of Sars deaths - not to enter.

The note says, "We are concerned about the risk of Sars that you may bring".

Korean owner Jenny Yugungim said she did not want anyone on her premises who had been in those countries during the past two months.

"They can't come in because there is too much danger," she said. "Everywhere there are people who die, die, die. I tell them 'no' and say 'go away, go away'."

Yugungim said her guests had told her it was a good idea she was turning away visitors from those countries because they were scared of sharing rooms with people who may carry the disease.

But other backpacker operators in the city are outraged by Yugungim's actions.

Kiwipaka director Malcolm Munro said he would never put up such a sign.

"I'm not that stupid," he said. "I feel sorry that she is that paranoid about it. It is over-reacting and it's a shame because it is a bad message to send. If they are that concerned about it, they should get out of the game."

Debbie Robertson, from the Wall Backpackers and Activity Centre, found it hard to believe someone was so worried about Sars. "I guess Kiwis just brush it off and have a good old relaxed attitude."

Tourism Rotorua general manager Oscar Nathan said there was nothing he could do about the Little Village Backpackers' sign.

"She is making that decision on her own, based on her values," Nathan said. "It would be different if it were the whole industry taking that view."

Nathan said all other accommodation outlets in Rotorua felt comfortable with the processes in place at airports to ensure those with Sars did not enter the country.

- NZPA