25 Aug 2016
HANOI Tourism experts and authorities say Vietnam needs new, radical and coherent policies as well as green business practices that link tourism to environmental protection and climate-change action.
Culture, Sports and Tourism deputy minister, Dang Thi Bich Lien, told local media that climate change would impact on several industries in Vietnam, including agriculture, fishing, commerce, and tourism.
“Rising sea levels could engulf beaches and other natural resources in coastal areas, damage cultural destinations, and flood tourism infrastructure, costing the industry an enormous investment in time and money to put right.”
The country is facing rising sea levels, increased erosion, landslides, flooding and severe weather impacts due to rainfall patterns, he explained.
“Tourism planning and management has to face increased threats head-on and work to create coastal protection for natural assets, communities and heritage sites especially from flash flooding.”
The tourism ministry’s Institute for Tourism Development Research and Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment’s Institute for Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources will start by strengthening communications and incorporate climate change in the development strategy for tourism.
It is very rare for tourism officials to comment on the long-term impact of climate change on the region’s tourism assets especially coastal resorts and heritage towns that could be threatened by rising sea levels and changes in rainfall patterns.