Typhoon Yagi wreaks havoc on tourism across Asia

Vietnam

The storm made landfall over northern Vietnam on Saturday with winds of up to 149 kph.

Major tourist destinations such as the Bai Chay area in Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba Island in Hai Phong City were devastated.

Multimillion-dollar tourism complexes like the Quang Ninh Museum, library and Dolphin Palace in Quang Ninh Province, one of the areas hardest hit, suffered severe damage, with roofs torn off and glass windows shattered by the strong winds.

Hotels and resorts reported broken glass, damaged signboards and torn aluminum panels, forcing them to close for repairs.

Tourist boats are sunk in Ha Long, Quang Ninh Province after typhoon Yagi made landfall over the northern region in September 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy

Floods and landslides triggered by the storm continue to disrupt traffic and tourism in what is the peak travel season.

The tourism industry has not disclosed the exact extent of its losses, but operators have indicated the losses are substantial and recovery will take a considerable amount of time.

Le Manh Hiep, owner of a hotel in Ha Long, said the damage to tourist facilities was "huge", adding that his family alone suffered around VND500 million ($20,300) in losses.

"Any place that wants to welcome tourists will need at least a month to recover," Hiep told VnExpress.

Philippines

In the Philippines, the first country Yagi struck, on Sept. 2, at least 16 people were killed.

Sea travel was halted at several ports, stranding 2,400 ferry passengers and cargo workers, and nearly two dozen domestic flights were suspended, AP reported

Tourism activities were also severely disrupted.

Nearly 450,000 families with 1.7 million people were affected, and infrastructure damage is valued at PHP351 million (US$6.2 million).

China

On Sept. 5 Yagi intensified into a super typhoon and hit China's Hainan Island the next day with winds of up to 234 kph.

Hainan is known for its tropical climate, beach resorts and Buddhist temples.

A vehicle moves past trees along a road in Haikou following the landfall of Super Typhoon Yagi in southern China's Hainan Province, on Sept. 6, 2024 in this photo released by the Xinhua news agency. Photo handout via AP

The typhoon caused grievous damage to key tourist attractions, including the renowned seaside Starry Sky restaurant, famous for its 360-degree ocean views.

The restaurant was left in ruins, with its glass façade shattered and nearly all facilities damaged, according to the Dimsum Daily.

Several upscale hotels, including The Ritz-Carlton, also suffered severe damage.

Its exterior bore the brunt, with parts of its façade blown off and signage lost.

Thailand

Though Thailand was not in the typhoon’s path, it suffered flooding in 48 provinces and cities, including famous tourist destinations such as Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Phang Nga, Phuket, and capital Bangkok.

People have been warned of possible heavy rains and flash floods between Sept. 13 and 18.

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported that floods and landslides triggered by the typhoon had killed eight people in the north, including six who died in Chiang Mai Province and two others in Chiang Rai near the Myanmar border.

Laos

On Monday Luang Namtha Province in northern Laos experienced severe flooding. Heavy rains caused extensive damage across the region, overwhelming local infrastructure and leading to significant disruptions, as the Laotian Times reported.

Flights between Vientiane and Luang Namtha, home to several popular tourist attractions, have been canceled until further notice.

Lao Airlines and Lao Skyway suspended operations on Sept. 10 due to severe flooding at Luang Namtha Airport.

Authorities are addressing the situation, and flights will resume once the airport is fully operational.

Luang Prabang, the country's former royal capital, is facing a critical situation with rising water levels.