The haze weather in Singapore has dealt a severe blow to its tourism industry

　　Singapore, long known for its clean environment, has recently experienced an unprecedented "haze weather." The tourism industry in Singapore has been severely affected, with visitor numbers at many tourist attractions plummeting. Beijing News reporters learned from multiple sources yesterday that travel to Singapore from China has not been significantly impacted. Industry insiders analyzed that, "Compared to air quality in China, Singapore’s is not that serious."

　　Last week, as the dry season began in neighboring Indonesia, farmers and palm oil plantation owners in Sumatra took the opportunity to burn forest land to clear it, and the resulting smoke drifted to Singapore, creating the haze. Mr. Yu, who works in Singapore, told reporters yesterday that the air pollution last week was particularly severe, though it has improved recently, but "it all depends on the wind direction—the forest burning hasn’t stopped yet," Mr. Yu said.

　　According to local media reports, due to the impact of the smog, attractions such as Singapore’s Singapore Flyer have been temporarily closed or had outdoor performances canceled, while visitor numbers at other normally operating attractions have also dropped markedly.

　　Experts believe that if the smog persists, it could have a serious negative impact on Singapore’s tourism industry in the third quarter.

　　Regarding the haze in Singapore, which is expected to continue for several more weeks, multiple airlines and travel agencies—including Air China, Singapore Airlines, Ctrip, UTour, Caissa Travel, and Jetstar—told Beijing News reporters yesterday that domestic travel to Singapore has not been significantly affected, and none reported hearing of any recent concentrated flight cancellations, refunds, or tour group rescheduling.

　　A staff member at one of the travel agencies told reporters, "For domestic tourists, Singapore’s air pollution is not that serious compared to air quality in China."

　　Zhao Peng, host of the morning news program on Beijing Traffic Radio, also said on Weibo, "I looked it up online—'Singapore and Malaysia’s pollution index hit a 20-year high, with PM2.5 levels exceeding 170 at one point, and some schools closing.' 170?! And you’re still complaining about bad air? Don’t get us riled up, okay?"

　　Wang Yuesi, a researcher at the Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, told this newspaper yesterday that biomass burning is seasonal. He advised tourists to wait until the burning season is over before traveling.

　　Additionally, according to Singaporean media reports, local mask supplies have run short due to the haze. In response, Pan Xiaochuan, a professor at Peking University’s School of Public Health, advised yesterday that domestic tourists who are certain to travel should prepare masks in advance. Since biomass burning mainly produces coarse particulate pollutants, regular masks are sufficient for protection. In contrast, specialized masks designed for PM2.5 in China are not suitable for prolonged outdoor wear.

　　While most people in China say they are "unfazed," some domestic consumers may have their travel plans disrupted because of this.

　　Ms. Li, who booked a flight to Singapore for July 19 this week, told reporters yesterday that when she purchased her ticket from Singapore Airlines, the airline did not warn her about the haze situation in Singapore. After booking, Ms. Li learned about the haze and applied to Singapore Airlines for a refund, but was ultimately unsuccessful. Ms. Li said, "If the pollution is still severe at that time, I’ll just have to give up the ticket and not go."

　　In response, Singapore Airlines stated that the discounted ticket Ms. Li purchased falls under the category of "non-refundable and non-changeable" tickets, and therefore cannot be refunded. Additionally, Singapore Airlines has not yet introduced any special refund or change policies in response to the haze.