Non-smoke industry suffers from climate change

Update: 12/11/2009
Tourism is one of the industries suffering losses due to climate change, according to a scientific conference to estimate the impact of climate change on the sector in Hanoi on Monday.

Nguyen Manh Cuong, deputy head of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, said at the conference that Vietnam was suffering badly from climate change which has been hurting tourism industry development because tourism resources and projects are located near the sea or on islands.

Pham Trung Luong, deputy head of the Institute of Tourism Development Research, agreed, saying climate change badly impacted coastal regions which are hit by typhoons and high waves.

According to Luong, climate change affects tourism resources which are interesting destinations, including Ha Long Bay and Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park.

Bad weather like typhoons, landslides and floods causes tours to be delayed or canceled. Recently, many tours in the mountainous northern and central regions were delayed by typhoons Ketsana and Mirinae. Hotels, entertainment zones and transportation services are also hurt by climate change.

So far, the country’s coastline and its 3,000 islands are most vulnerable to the impacts of tropical storms, ocean waves and climate change in general.

Source: Saigon Times