20 Oct 2009, Nina Nguyen on Climate change and destination tourism development
Climate change is known as global warming, ice melt, violent storms, drought, floods, extinction of species, etc, Vietnam potentially is one of the countries where climate change could have the most dramatic impact. Climate change in Vietnam would threat 2,000 miles of coastline in danger of losing land and people as well as bring more frequent and severe typhoons and rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns with. Vietnam has a large amount of forest area covering almost 40 percent of the country. According to Vietnam’s forest use classification system, 17 percent of these forests are considered special use, 41 percent are considered as protection and 42 percent are classified as production. Climate change by its very nature has not only become a challenge to environmental protection but also to tourism industry development in Vietnam.
Tourism is a resource industry, dependent for its basic appeal upon natural resources and society’s heritages. Natural resources are the combination of local physical attributes including: climate, landforms, landscapes, flora or fauna; while socio-cultural heritages draw tourists’ attention to historic buildings, works of art, cuisine, festivals and spectacles. As tourism is a key industry in Vietnam, protecting mentioned tourism resources as well as related elements with respect to infrastructure, accommodation, transportation against the threats of climate change has become crucial than ever.
The major challenge of climate change with regards to Vietnam tourism is dynamics of tourism market. As demand side, tourists always seek for good weather by changing destination and travel patterns, Vietnam thus would face with high tourism seasonal problem during the rainy season. The damage of infrastructure would be recognized as tourists’ frustration while travelling within Vietnam as well as increasing the cost of maintaining. On the supply side, climate change presents a serious risk to areas which are highly dependent on tourism as a main source of income. The degradation of coastal zones, rising sea level and decline in biodiversity could make Vietnam lose its attractiveness to tourists. In brief, climate change could affect to the livelihood of the destination, decrease the amount of tourist arrivals as well as cause the lost in productivity by the cost of maintaining infrastructure, protecting environment.
According to the UNWTO’s “Climate Change and Tourism: Responding to Global Challenges” report, it is clear that tourism has become a non-negligible contributor to climate change. The economic, environmental and social impact of climate change makes tourism both a victim and a vector. Vietnamese government therefore should draw efficient development strategies to adapt to the changing of climate. Promoting public awareness on climate change, developing sustainable plan for building infrastructure, protecting tourism resources with regards to climate change should be essential goals in the country’s plan.
Bibliographic references
Article: The Responsible Travel and Tourism Showcase is produced by Baxter Travel Media for the Responsible Travel and Tourism Forum and as a supplement to the Dec. 3/2007
Digital edition of Canadian Travel Press, 310 Dupont, Toronto, Ont., M5R 1V9,
WWF climate change program: No place to hide: Affects of climate change on protected areas
http://www.terradaily.com/2006/070205100236.qijukvv4.html (Vietnam highly vulnerable to climate change: expert. HANOI, Feb 05, 2007)
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/KHII-7WK5FW?OpenDocument (Vietnam: Economics of adaptation to climate change study. The World Bank Group, 30 Sept 2009)
20 Oct 2009, Nina Nguyen on Climate change and destination tourism development
Climate change is known as global warming, ice melt, violent storms, drought, floods, extinction of species, etc, Vietnam potentially is one of the countries where climate change could have the most dramatic impact. Climate change in Vietnam would threat 2,000 miles of coastline in danger of losing land and people as well as bring more frequent and severe typhoons and rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns with. Vietnam has a large amount of forest area covering almost 40 percent of the country. According to Vietnam’s forest use classification system, 17 percent of these forests are considered special use, 41 percent are considered as protection and 42 percent are classified as production. Climate change by its very nature has not only become a challenge to environmental protection but also to tourism industry development in Vietnam.
Tourism is a resource industry, dependent for its basic appeal upon natural resources and society’s heritages. Natural resources are the combination of local physical attributes including: climate, landforms, landscapes, flora or fauna; while socio-cultural heritages draw tourists’ attention to historic buildings, works of art, cuisine, festivals and spectacles. As tourism is a key industry in Vietnam, protecting mentioned tourism resources as well as related elements with respect to infrastructure, accommodation, transportation against the threats of climate change has become crucial than ever.
The major challenge of climate change with regards to Vietnam tourism is dynamics of tourism market. As demand side, tourists always seek for good weather by changing destination and travel patterns, Vietnam thus would face with high tourism seasonal problem during the rainy season. The damage of infrastructure would be recognized as tourists’ frustration while travelling within Vietnam as well as increasing the cost of maintaining. On the supply side, climate change presents a serious risk to areas which are highly dependent on tourism as a main source of income. The degradation of coastal zones, rising sea level and decline in biodiversity could make Vietnam lose its attractiveness to tourists. In brief, climate change could affect to the livelihood of the destination, decrease the amount of tourist arrivals as well as cause the lost in productivity by the cost of maintaining infrastructure, protecting environment.
According to the UNWTO’s “Climate Change and Tourism: Responding to Global Challenges” report, it is clear that tourism has become a non-negligible contributor to climate change. The economic, environmental and social impact of climate change makes tourism both a victim and a vector. Vietnamese government therefore should draw efficient development strategies to adapt to the changing of climate. Promoting public awareness on climate change, developing sustainable plan for building infrastructure, protecting tourism resources with regards to climate change should be essential goals in the country’s plan.
Bibliographic references
- Article: The Responsible Travel and Tourism Showcase is produced by Baxter Travel Media for the Responsible Travel and Tourism Forum and as a supplement to the Dec. 3/2007
- Digital edition of Canadian Travel Press, 310 Dupont, Toronto, Ont., M5R 1V9,
- WWF climate change program: No place to hide: Affects of climate change on protected areas
- http://www.terradaily.com/2006/070205100236.qijukvv4.html (Vietnam highly vulnerable to climate change: expert. HANOI, Feb 05, 2007)
- http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/KHII-7WK5FW?OpenDocument (Vietnam: Economics of adaptation to climate change study. The World Bank Group, 30 Sept 2009)
hello,Nina
I enjoy reading your article very much, it is short but powerful. Actually, I am very familiar with this topic because my own article and our DDS report. I agree with you that tourism is a victim as well as a vectorthe because of the economic, environmental and social impact of climate change and we should take action as soon as possible.
Dear Nina,
The topic of climate change is not new, but still ‘hot’ to all people. Your article makes me worried about our country, Vietnam. Living in the central, the most severe climate area in Vietnam, I have witnessed the changes of climate and its damages, for example the losing of some beautiful beaches, long rainy season. Once natural attractions are deteriorated, it’s very hard to restore. I agree with you and Ada about being victim and vector. Tourism, besides, can be a tool or contributor in the fight against climate change, for instance ecotourism or natural based tourism.
Greets,
Hai