Arabian
Travel Market awards scheme recognises trio of Asian nations as their tourism
sectors prevail in the face of overwhelming adversity after being struck by devastating
natural disasters
Arabian Travel Market (ATM) has
revealed the 2016 shortlist for its annual New Frontiers Recovery Awards, with
three Asian nations nominated for this year’s award, which will be announced on
Thursday 28th April during ATM.
The shortlisted destinations
Nepal, the Philippines and Taiwan have all been recognised for dealing with the
dual impact of significant human and economic losses in the last 12 months due
to devastating natural catastrophes, their effect on local tourism and their
remarkable efforts to recover.
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| Nadege Noblet-Segers |
“The last year has not only
been the hottest on record, weather and climate-related disasters dominating
headlines, but has also seen a doubling in the number of recorded fatalities on
2014 figures,” said Nadege Noblet-Segers, Exhibition Manager, Arabian Travel
Market.
“And, although the economic
impact of these incidences has declined from US$42 billion in 2014 to US$35
billion in 2015, it is still a devastating blow to those nations where reliance
on the tourism dollar is linked not only to economic growth but also to the
fulfillment of the most basic daily needs of local people for whom a job in the
tourism industry means food on the table and a future for their family,” she
added.
The New Frontiers Recovery
Award was created in 2005 to recognise outstanding contributions to tourism
development in the face of overwhelming adversity, supporting the chosen
destination by donating exhibition space at the event to the value of
US$10,000.
As well as physical
rebuilding, the award also focuses on the strategic redevelopment of a
destination as nations seek to repair market confidence and attract tourism
back to the region.
“Efforts to rebuild and recover need to be
front and centre at an international level if countries are to regain traveller
confidence and re-energise their tourism product post-disaster, and the New
Frontiers Recovery Award, which is now in its 12th year, is
absolutely the right vehicle through which to recognise country efforts and
reposition destinations to an influential global audience,” said Noblet-Segers.
Previous award recipients
include Phuket, Thailand; Cancun, Mexico; Sichuan, China; Baluchistan,
Pakistan; Central Visayas, Philippines and last year, Nepal.
This year’s nominees have
all had to repair, rebuild and recover, with efforts ongoing in some
destinations. The 2016 short list includes:
Taiwan
– earthquake, February 2016: The island nation, which
has long been a popular tourism destination, was hit by a 6.4-magnitude
earthquake causing the worst death toll in the country’s history since 1999.
Building safety and agricultural land soil concerns remain a challenge just
several weeks after the event, with US$1 billion in aid already allocated by
the government. In the aftermath of the earthquake, Taiwan’s government was
swift to react and construction regulation has been put on the agenda for
discussion with local authorities/municipalities already being urged to conduct
structural safety checks of all buildings. Around 2,000 schools have already
been retrofitted for quake safety.
Nepal
– earthquake, April 2015: The 7.8-magnitude earthquake flattened large parts of the capital
Kathmandu and caused devastation across the entire nation, destroying numerous
historical sites and popular tourism attractions. A total of 6,204 fatalities
were recorded with more than 14,000 people injured and 2.8 million Nepalese
displaced. According to UN reports, 130,033 houses and 16,000 were damaged or destroyed,
90% of health services were affected and the annual harvest/crops were either
lost or severely impacted. The tourism sector immediately saw 80% of all
forward bookings cancelled and while, almost one year on, hotels in Kathmandu
have seen an upsurge in bookings, a large majority is due to international
agency personnel as opposed to regular tourists. Over
US$52 million was pledged by the UN and dozens of countries in support of
post-disaster relief with the country’s tourism body surveying and approving
hotels to re-open, and adventure travel companies reprising hiking/trekking
itineraries in unaffected areas such as Chitwan and Bardia
The
Philippines – typhoon, October 2015: Typhoon Koppu brought with
it winds of up to 115 mph, displacing half a million people and directly
affecting over 1.24 million Filipinos. A total of 17,254 homes were damaged as
a result of the typhoon with significant structural damage to houses, schools,
hospitals and other community facilities including hotels/guesthouses. The
typhoon hit land in Luzon, the country’s largest and most densely populated island,
bringing with it torrential rain and landslides. The economic impact included
flight cancellations, people stranded in other ports and entire districts
without power, and therefore unable to function, with a reported economic sot
of around US$160 million. As part of ongoing efforts to recover, the
Philippines National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council donated
US$480,000-worth of assistance.
For
more information on The New Frontiers Recovery Award, please go to www.arabiantravelmarket.com
