The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the phenomenon is due to global warming and the country should expect the trend to continue in the coming years.
“Based on historical records, the frequency of tropical cyclones here tends to decrease, but the number of strong typhoons tends to increase,” said Dr. Ana Liza Solis, PAGASA Director of Climate Monitoring and Forecasting, during a disaster communication workshop organized by the Philippine Presidential Communications Office.
The Philippines has averaged at least 19 to 20 tropical storms a year over the past 10 years, but these days, that number is rare, said Dr. Solis.
“That means, historically, we have had more hurricanes and typhoons. And the trend of hurricanes and typhoons becoming more intense is increasing,” she added.
The female doctor said that this situation is likely to continue in the context of increasingly serious climate change. The solution is to prepare and build a long-term adaptation strategy.
“We need to adapt and be resilient because typhoons will come. And we need to deal with typhoons,” she told the Philippine News Agency in a separate interview.
The Philippine government has developed measures to address the long-term impact of climate-related disasters, including through key government projects such as flood mitigation works, irrigation system construction, river basin resilience initiatives, and large dams.
The Philippines has suffered dozens of casualties and billions of pesos in property damage as six tropical storms hit several provinces in two months, with the tourism industry also taking a hit.
During the landfall of Typhoon Toraji, Typhoon Kong-rey and Typhoon Yin-xing in November, many popular tourist spots across the northern Philippines, including historical sites and nature reserves, were temporarily closed to prevent visitors from entering dangerous areas.
The travel and tourism industry must brace for an economic shock, especially in areas such as Ilocos and Cagayan Valley, which attract large numbers of domestic and international tourists each year. Popular with visitors for its beaches, mountains and cultural heritage, the tourism industry in the northern Philippines has become increasingly vulnerable to seasonal typhoons, taking a toll on local economies and tourism-dependent businesses.
In Vietnam, Typhoon No. 3 Yagi also caused serious property damage, directly affecting the country's tourism industry. Hundreds of flights were canceled, tourist attractions and accommodation facilities were damaged, causing heavy losses. Travel businesses had to face the situation of canceling tours, routes, hotel reservations... because they could not depart due to weather or damaged destinations, not ready to receive guests.
The tourism industry in Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, etc. must make efforts to support businesses and people in overcoming the damage and welcoming visitors as soon as possible. However, this is still a heavy blow to the country's tourism industry, especially in the new stage of recovery and development after the COVID-19 pandemic.
