Travelers face greater risks of local air pollution than residents, so experts advise tourists to inform themselves beforehand of the types of pollution they might face, and to prepare accordingly. (Photos: GT/Li Hao)
Seasonal smog
Ma said that poor air quality was often seasonal and dependent on where tourists were traveling.
He said in some countries, like India, there was a big difference in air quality between the rainy season and the dry season.
"During the dry season, it's dustier and less windy, and thus more polluted," said Ma. "When there's more rain, with more atmospheric circulation, the conditions are better."
The Wall Street Journal reported last October that Singapore suffered from its most hazardous level of air pollution as haze caused by fires in Indonesia covered the island state, which is an annual irritant for residents of Indonesia's northern neighbors.
Tang likewise said that based on his experiences of traveling abroad, the degree to which a place was affected by air pollution is seasonal.
"For example, flights are often delayed in New Delhi every winter due to smog caused not only by industrial and car emissions, but also by burnt combustible matter."
He said that of the 15 countries he had been to, Katmandu in Nepal and Lahore in Pakistan were worst affected by smog.
Seasonality also played a part in stimulating people's allergies, said Zhang.
"For example, in the spring time, the presence of various allergens leads to an increase in upper respiratory tract infections in many countries and regions," he said.
Ma said that as Chinese tourists come to realize the extent of the air pollution problems in destinations overseas, their appetite for traveling abroad may be diminished.
"Many Chinese are sick and tired of the air pollution, and look forward to fresh air when traveling," Ma said. "The presence of smog at tourist destinations will reduce their desire for travel."
Li however, disagreed with this contention.
"I don't think it will affect our outbound tourism, because traveling overseas is very popular right now," said Li. "Some people might care about the issue a lot, such as environmentalists, who will never go [to places with smog]. But many others don't care so much."
Weighing in on the issue, Tang said that travelers who focus more on cultural experiences when traveling would not be deterred by poor air quality overseas, but for those who travel for leisure and rest, it might be a different story.
"[When planning a trip], I mainly focus on the tourist attractions. Whether the air is polluted or not is a secondary consideration," he said. "I like destinations like India, and I won't stop going back just because of the smog."
Taking precautions
Even so, Tang said, he does pay attention to the air quality of the places he travels to, and makes sure to take precautions.
"For now, what we can do is to pack equipment that can mitigate the effects of poor air, such as masks, coats and anti-inflammatories," he said.
Ma endorsed Tang's view, saying that it was important that tourists informed themselves and took necessary precautions against air pollution when traveling abroad.
"When traveling to major cities, the air pollution is often mainly due to traffic emissions," said Ma. "Precautions that can be taken include not staying for a long periods by the roadside, and not engaging in too many intensive activities."
Ma also advised people to take masks that were designed to protect against the particular types of pollution they could expect to encounter, such as those intended to fend off dust when traveling to desert regions, or those are PM2.5 proof for industrial areas.
Ma said that Chinese tourists might find it more difficult to find information about the air quality in the destinations they are traveling to than they are accustomed to in their own country, which makes it even more important to prepare in advance.
"[People in China] are used to being able to access information [about the air quality] very easily, through apps and the like, but it might be difficult to find an app that provides such information when traveling," he said.
To get around the problem, Ma advised travelers to consult local media for air quality levels when staying abroad.
Another option is to buy a "haze-travel insurance" package that is currently provided by travel agents and insurance companies.
Under such insurance policies, monetary compensation is provided if the tourist is unfortunate enough to be caught in smoggy weather for a certain number of consecutive days.
Li said that it was important that the tourism sectors and environmental protection sectors work together to promote eco-friendly tourism and reduce emissions, in an effort to reduce the impact of industry on pollution in the future, a suggestion with which Ma agreed.
"If this happens, then more Chinese people will go out to see the world, and take photos that are clear with good visibility," said Ma. "And more foreign travelers will come to us."
