New York,May 28: Dell Computer Corp., the No 1 personal computer maker, has lifted its ban on staff travelling to SARS-hit parts of Asia, and other major companies may soon follow suit as the spread of the disease slows in hard-hit China and Hong Kong. Business groups said US companies are concerned that if they keep travel restrictions on for too long they may lose out to their rivals in the battle for Asian sales, and as they continue to shift an increasing amount of production to China.

"Many companies are considering lifting bans immediately this week," said Kevin Mitchell, chairman of the Business Travel Coalition. "At this time it has become a competitive problem. Companies are probably concerned that they are the only ones out there that are not travelling and their competitors may be going to Asia while the company's executives are staying home."
Round Rock, Texas-based Dell, which had banned all travel to the affected regions, lifted its ban on some travel after the World Health Organisation said on May 23 that it was now safe to travel to Hong Kong and neighbouring Guangdong province in China.
"We are keeping up to date with the WHO and the Centres for Disease Control developments and are allowing employees to travel to Asia if it is essential," said Bob Kaufman, a spokesman for Dell. Bureau Report