Natural disasters that hurt tourism

Many world- famous destinations have suffered serious natural disasters, causing local tourism to suffer.

SCMP compiled a list of natural disasters that occurred at popular destinations. The tourism industry at these destinations was severely affected, with hotels and restaurants damaged, travel agencies closed, and locals losing their jobs. Since the beginning of the year, there have been four major natural disasters at popular destinations.

Rhodes Island, Greece: Wildfires

Wildfires ravaged parts of the world this summer. In July, during the peak tourist season, strong winds swept across the arid island of Rhodes, sparking a blaze that burned for weeks.

Wildfires on the Greek island of Rhodes, photographed in July. Photo: AP

Residents and tourists have taken refuge in schools and other shelters as the fire threatens coastal resorts and villages. The world media has described the evacuation from Rhodes as the "largest in Greek history" as nearly 19,000 people have been evacuated from the island by sea since July 22.

For nearly two months, the Greek government has been trying to rescue the local tourism industry. Officials on the island of Rhodes say the destination is safe and ready to welcome visitors from around the world.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has agreed to offer tourists whose tours were canceled during the wildfires a free week's stay in Rhodes in 2024. In 2022, Rhodes welcomed around 2.5 million visitors, more than before the pandemic.

Hawaii: Wildfires

The town of Lahaina on the west side of Maui, where people once lived by hunting whales, is one of the most popular vacation spots in the Hawaiian Islands.

In addition to the beaches, the town also attracts visitors with dozens of art galleries, souvenir shops, and restaurants.

Last August, a devastating wildfire swept through the island of Maui. According to the National Fire Protection Association, the Maui wildfire was more destructive than the 2018 Northern California Fire that destroyed the town of Paradise and killed 85 people. The Maui wildfire was also considered the deadliest in the United States in 100 years. According to Reuters , at least 185 people died. 2,200 buildings were damaged or destroyed, causing an estimated $6 billion in damage.

Tourism experts fear the fire will have a lasting impact on tourism in Maui and the Hawaiian Islands as a whole. After the fire was brought under control, local authorities urged tourists to temporarily stay away from Maui to make room for locals. 1,000 hotel rooms were set aside for evacuees and duty personnel.

Morocco: Earthquake

The shifting of the African and Eurasian tectonic plates was a major factor in the September 8 earthquake that killed thousands of people in Morocco. The US Geological Survey (USGS) said it was the strongest earthquake to hit the North African country in a century.

The epicenter of the 6.8 magnitude earthquake that struck last Friday night was the High Atlas Mountains, about 166 km southwest of the heritage city of Marrakech, central Morocco, in Al Haouz province. This is also where the highest number of casualties occurred.

A hotel in the village of Moulay Brahim, south of Marrakech, was damaged after the earthquake. Photo: AP

Marrakech was severely affected by the earthquake, with many historical buildings severely damaged. Since September 11, all historical sites in Marrakech, including the Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs and the El Badi Palace, have been closed.

Marrakech is consistently the top destination in Morocco. In 2022, the city welcomed 10.9 million visitors, up 3.7 million from the previous year, according to Morocco World News.

Sikkim, India: Avalanche

Last April, an avalanche in the state of Sikkim, one of India’s most scenic tourist regions, killed seven tourists and injured 17. The group was buried by the snow while trekking along Nathu La, a Himalayan pass between India and Tibet.

Scientists say climate change has increased the risk and intensity of avalanches in Sikkim, India’s northeastern border state. Deforestation is another cause, as trees are cut down, leaving the soil loose and unstable, making it more susceptible to avalanches.

Murree, Pakistan: Snowstorm

In January 2022, 150,000 tourists in Pakistan flocked to the mountain resort of Murree in the north of the country in the hope of seeing the first snow of the season. The snow arrived on time, but in a fierce storm.

The blizzard brought down trees and power lines. Roads in and out of Murree were blocked, with traffic backed up for miles.

Some tourists abandoned their cars and made their way into the city to find lodging, while others stayed overnight. The plunging temperatures killed 23 people in their cars from hypothermia and carbon monoxide poisoning from engine exhaust.

Days after the blizzard, angry survivors blamed hotel owners for raising room rates to "unacceptable" levels and for the deaths of those who chose to stay in their cars.

Venice, Italy: Flooding

In November 2019, Venice experienced its worst flooding in 50 years. Attractions such as St Mark's Square and many shops, restaurants and bars were flooded. Half of the city's 120 churches were submerged. Many old houses and historical structures were damaged.

After the flood, tourists canceled hotel reservations en masse, and some events were postponed.

Tourists carry their luggage through floodwaters in Venice on December 23, 2019. Photo: AP

Although Venetians seem to be used to floods, what worries them is the depth of the water and the frequency of floods that increase every year.

Bich Phuong (According to SCMP )

Source link: https://vnexpress.net/nhung-tham-hoa-thien-nhien-khien-du-lich-chiu-thiet-hai-4653628.html