PM: Indian government over-reacting

Prime Minister John Key says New Zealand is still safe to visit despite swine flu, and the Indian Government is over-reacting by telling its people not to travel here.

Mr Key said "one or two" Japanese tourists had also cancelled trips here, but noted the Japanese had been "particularly sensitive" during the Sars virus scare. He said anything that deterred tourists was a negative, but swine flu was going to hit lots of countries and New Zealand had a "first class health system" to deal with it.

India's travel advisory also asked Indians to restrict travel to the US, Mexico, Canada and France. All travellers flying into India from NZ and these countries would be individually checked for flu symptoms.

Mr Key was to meet the Japanese Foreign Minister yesterday and said the topic of swine flu could come up.