(TITC) - On 23rd August, in Ha Noi, Mr. Ha Van Sieu, Vice Chairman of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) had a meeting with World Wide Fund for Nature in Viet Nam (WWF-Viet Nam) on the project “Reducing demand for ivory by strengthening law enforcement and responsible tourism practices”.
Overview of the meeting (Photo: TITC)
At the meeting, Mr. Vuong Quoc Chien, Project Manager for Reducing the demand for ivory Phase II of WWF-Viet Nam informed that, from 2010 to 2018, about 157,000 elephants were hunted and in the period 2007 to 2017, a vast decrease of African elephant populations with reducing by more than 100,000 zooids, to about 400,000 to 570,000 zooids. Currently, China is the largest consumer of ivory globally with 6.8% of Chinese tourists purchasing ivory while travelling outside of China and most of it from illegal hunting.
Mr. Vuong Quoc Chien, Project Manager for Reducing the demand for ivory Phase II of World Wide Fund for Nature in Viet Nam (WWF-Viet Nam) at the meeting (Photo: TITC)
According to the 5th annual survey on Demand Under the Ban-China Ivory Consumption Research 2021 of WWF, although the consumption of ivory in 2021 received a slight decrease, plus, the Chinese and Thai governments have banned the illegal ivory trade, the search and trade continues to some degree. Vuong Quoc Chien raised a hope that the project “Reducing demand for ivory by strengthening law enforcement and responsible tourism practices” will, in some aspect, take full advantage of the knowledge of tourism partners to develop and adjust messages, raise awareness of wildlife and elephant conservation among tourists, thereby contributing to reducing poaching pressure elephants in the wild by reducing the supply of ivory and reducing the demand for ivory in Asian markets.
Vietnam National Administration of Tourism always gives out great support for wildlife conservation projects in general as well as WWF-Vietnam's projects in particular. Towards the main aim of sustainable tourism development and enhancing responsibility for environmental protection and conservation of nature and wildlife in tourism activities. As a national tourism management board, VNAT is ready to become a partner with the project and ensure the local tourism management agencies to facilitate the project implementation process as well as support propaganda on the official websites of VNAT, VNAT’s Vice Chairman Ha Van Sieu said.
VNAT’s Vice Chairman Ha Van Sieu (left) at the meeting (Photo: TITC)
It is necessary to update information related to responsible tourism, environmental, social and wildlife and elephant protection in tourism, especially, deliver them via promotional activities of Vietnam tourism. Since media holds a great power of spreading, coordinating with relevant partners and media influencers can help to empower the message of the project.
Additionally, WWF-Vietnam should apply a measurement to monitor the improvement in awareness of the reduction in demand for ivory. Authentic feedback from tourists, guides and tourist destinations is an important factor contributing to raising awareness of environmental, wildlife and elephant protection, emphasised VNAT’s Vice Chairman Ha Van Sieu.
The project is expected to be implemented in 5 provinces and cities of Vietnam, including: Quang Ninh, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang and Ha Noi with a duration of 3 years.
Propaganda products of WWF-Vietnam for projects related to the prevention of illegal wildlife trade (Photo: TITC)
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