Workshop seeks to promote responsible tourism and wildlife conservation
Hanoi (VNA) – Preventing tourists from buying ivory
products and endangered wild species is essential, especially in the context
that Vietnam has fully reopened its door to international tourists and the tourism industry
is on the way to recovery, heard a workshop held in Hanoi on June 22.
The event, which was organised by World Wide Fund for Nature in Vietnam in
coordination with Hanoi’s Department of Tourism and Hanoi Tourism
Association, aims to provide knowledge about responsible tourism and wildlife
conservation for 150 tour guides and travel operators.
Vietnam currently has 33 national parks, 57 nature reserves,
13 habitat conservation areas, 53 landscape protection zones and 9 biosphere
reserves.
Participants were provided with information that was expected
to help identify risks related to brokering and trading wildlife products.
Some good models and lessons on responsible tourism associated with nature
and wildlife preservation in the world and Vietnam were also shared at the
workshop, thereby helping to change travellers’ behaviours and refrain from buying or selling products from endangered species. They also exchanged
views related to this regard.
Nguyen Dao Ngoc Van from WWF-Vietnam said tourism development has increased the number of visitors to tourist attractions, which in turn hikes the demand
for resources, putting pressure on the environment and ecosystems.
Some tourists tend to prefer buying products derived from
wildlife, thus, leading to the loss of natural landscapes and important
eco-tourism sites, she said, adding that this is also the resource that the
tourism industry is relying on to attract domestic and foreign tourists.
Van said she hoped that tour guides and travel operators will spread the commitment to protect elephants and wildlife to visitors, helping them to be aware of the need to preserve these species.
The workshop was of practical significance in the context that the tourism industry is developing towards environmental, economic and social responsibility, said Trinh Thi My Nghe, Vice Chairwoman of the Hanoi Tourism Association./.