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Let me start by saying a very sincere thank you to the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA), the Viet Nam Ministry of Health and in particular the Viet Nam Tobacco Control Fund, and the Smoke-free Cities Asia Pacific Network for organizing this very important meeting.
I am truly sorry that I cannot join you in person in beautiful Hue—a city that is known for its UNESCO-listed heritage. I hope you take the opportunity to explore its rich culture and wonderful food.
Across Asia Pacific, tourism is an extremely important sector for the economy.
So, I am really delighted that the theme of this meeting is Destination Smoke-free: Transforming Tourism Across Asia Pacific.
Tobacco use by travelers threatens heritage sites with smoke damage, fire and litter, and of course it harms the health of other visitors and workers exposed to second-hand smoke. And we know from experiences in many countries that when the smoke-free movement is started in tourism, other sectors follow. In other words, smoke-free tourism has a very important multiplier effect.
Globally, second-hand smoke causes 1.6 million deaths annually. In the Western Pacific Region, smoking kills more than 3 million people each year, with one in every six of those deaths due to deadly second-hand smoke.
Here in Viet Nam alone, nearly 19,000 deaths each year are attributable to second-hand smoke, which is especially dangerous for children, older adults and those with pre-existing heart or lung conditions.
And while 79 countries have laws protecting people from second-hand smoke, enforcement still remains a very big challenge. In our region, only New Zealand has reported full compliance. And of course, we all now face many new challenges including the rise of new nicotine and tobacco products.
So, that’s why the efforts of SEATCA, the Smoke-free Cities Asia Pacific Network, and ASEAN governments to promote smoke-free environments—including in tourism—are so very important.
Making tourism smoke-free aligns with the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
And protecting people from exposure to second-hand smoke is one of the key measures in WHO’s MPOWER package of effective tobacco control measures.
It is encouraging to see that many countries are expanding smoke-free areas, leading to cleaner, healthier environments.
Here in Viet Nam thanks to these and other efforts, exposure to second-hand smoke has dropped by one-third in homes, workplaces and public spaces – meaning people across this country in these spaces can, quite literally, breathe a little easier.
It has been WHO’s privilege to support this work. And, of course, you can continue to count on us to continue to do so – here in Viet Nam and around the Region – as we work together to build a healthier, smoke-free future.
I’m very sorry again that I can’t be with you in person today, but I wish you a successful Asia Pacific Smoke-free Meeting and a wonderful stay in Hue.
Xin cảm ơn, xie xie, salamat, terima kasih and thank you!