Dong Nai (VNS/VNA) - Representatives from 30 tour operators andtravel agencies recently signed a pledge to support responsible tourism, natureconservation and wildlife protection during a training workshop at Cat TienNational Park in the southern province of Dong Nai.

The People and Nature Reconciliation (PanNature) said Vietnam’s tourism sectorgained an annual growth rate of about 22.7 percent in 2015 -2019, which madethe country among the world’s top travel destinations. In 2019, the countryrecorded more than 18 million international visitors and 85 million domestictravellers.

It said tourism associated with natural experiences and wildlife explorationhas become a trend worldwide. However, besides positive contributions to theeconomy and the development of local communities' livelihoods, the tourismsector also harms the environment, nature and wildlife.

The World Animal Protection (WAP) has warned that more than 500,000 wildlifeindividuals throughout the world, including elephants, sloths, tigers anddolphins, are being abused to entertain tourists.

Impacts on natural landscapes and wildlife species do not only come from masstourism but also tourists' demands for local ‘exotic products’, including food,medicine and jewellery from wildlife also contribute to threatening endangeredspecies.

A report released by TRAFFIC in 2018 focusing on illegal ivory markets in Vietnamfound that Chinese tourists are dominant consumers of ivory products.

Another previous study by TRAFFIC in 2014 concluded that wildlife customerswith multiple purchases were Chinese (including those from Hong Kong and Taiwan),Thai, Vietnamese, overseas Vietnamese and Europeans.

Turning blind eyes to wildlife consumption or tourists behaviour towardwildlife would not only be harmful to nature but also hurt the long-termprestige and benefits of tourism companies, whose operations rely on the beautyof nature.

Workshop participants agreed that it’s crucial to set up directions andstrategies for the sustainable development of tourism to reduce risks for theirown business and preserve Vietnam's natural and environmental values – one ofkey factors for the sector’s growth as well.

At the workshop, participants discussed the close relationship between tourismand nature, the situation of wildlife trade in tourism activities, practicesfor developing responsible tourism, and how to encourage behaviour change towardsthe illegal wildlife trade in the sector.

Representatives from 30 travel agencies and tour operators in HCM City, NinhBinh and Da Nang agreed to sign a pledge on wildlife protection at the event.

Director of Cat Tien National Park Pham Hong Luong appreciated the signingsession and said: "Cat Tien National Park is a biodiversity hotspot withvery diverse and rich ecosystems, rare and precious flora and fauna, andbeautiful natural landscapes. These are very important factors andprerequisites for promoting ecotourism.”

“We really appreciate the strong commitments, practical supports, and close cooperationof organisations, individuals, and travel agencies to responsible tourismassociated with the protection of nature, environment, and biodiversityconservation, towards the goal of sustainable development and a green futurefor Vietnam,” he said.

“We welcome the commitment and support of travel agencies and tour operators topromote the trend of responsible tourism associated with the goal of wildlifeprotection and nature conservation,” Trinh Le Nguyen, director of PanNature,said.

“PanNature is delighted to join hands in promoting the cooperation between thetourism sector and protected areas in designing, setting up, and developingsustainable and responsible tourism products to contribute to the preservationof the beauty of Vietnamese culture, nature and people. We will continue tomobilise resources to support this course for a sustainable tourism sector withstrong ties to nature conservation.”

Truong Thi Hien, chairman of Responsibility Tourism Club, commented: “The cluband PanNature have brought agencies that already practised responsible tourismand new ones that are initially learning about this direction together. Theyshared their experiences and sought directions for better communication andimproving their products and services as well. RTC hopes to have otheropportunities to continue supporting them to disseminate the message ofeffective environmental protection and wildlife conservation in tourism."/.