Pollution causes big revenue losses for tourism in central VietnamThe tourism sector in the four central provinces suffering from the seawater pollution caused in April by Taiwanese steel maker Formosa Ha Tinh has reported thousands of billions of dong in lost revenues, heard a meeting organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism last week. Ha Tinh Province reported a year-on-year plunge of a staggering 90% in sea tourism revenue in the January-September period while providers of other tourism services their revenue plummeting 40-50%. Lost revenue from travel, hotel and restaurant services in Quang Binh Province has amounted to VND1.9 trillion (US$85.3 million). Lost revenue in Quang Tri Province is smaller, at VND250 billion, while Thua Thien-Hue has shifted its focus to other tourism products to offset lost revenue in sea tourism services. In addition to the sea pollution, tourists are also concerned about the safety of water resources and foodstuffs, he said.

Source: VietNamNet News October 18, 2016 07:59 UTC