AsemconnectVietnam -  A year after mass fish deaths caused by the Hung Nghiep Formosa Steel Corporation, tourists have begun returning to beaches in the central province of Quang Tri.

Formosa polluted more than 200km of coastline in April last year, killing more than 100 tonnes of fish and devasting the environment, robbing thousands of people of their livelihoods and severely damaging the economies of Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue provinces.

Vietnam News Agency’s reporter quoted Nguyen Van Than, head manager of the local Cua Viet beach, as saying Cua Viet, once welcoming thousands of visitors on a daily basis, was bleak after the incident.

He noted that the situation improved when the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment announced the completion of its marine detoxification work, ensuring safety for beach activities in the four affected provinces.

The current number of tourists is about one fifth of past figures but is a sign local tourism is recovering, Than said.

According to statistics from the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, more than 150 accommodation facilities along local beaches have been upgraded to improve their services.

Authorities have been supporting the recovery of beach tourism by reducing land tax and holding promotion campaigns on clean beaches.

Source: VNA