Hangzhou, November 17, 2023 - As a partner, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) participated deeply in the "2023 World Tourism Alliance Xianghu Dialogue" and co-hosted the theme meeting "Joining Hands with Asian Tourism: Becoming Wildlife Guardians and Reducing Illegal Wildlife Trade" with WWF Thailand Office. A total of 110 experts and industry guests from the tourism and wildlife protection fields of China and Thailand attended the meeting.

The global tourism market is experiencing recovery and growth, showing new characteristics such as more personalization and integration. At the same time, it is facing multiple challenges such as the slowdown of world economic growth, the rise of anti-globalization, the global climate crisis and the loss of biodiversity. The "2023 World Tourism Alliance Xianghu Dialogue" is themed "The Power of Travel - Set off for a Better Future", focusing on multiple topics such as "Win-win Cooperation", "Transformation and Coexistence", and "Harmonious Sharing". WWF and members of the "Sustainable Travel Alliance" participated in the co-creation of multiple topics, and shared the concept of "Protecting endangered species and their habitats and practicing sustainable travel" with more than 500 representatives from governments, social enterprises and enterprises from all over the world.

Liu Song, Director of WWF's flagship project to combat illegal trade in endangered species, presided over the meeting

Based on the theme of the conference, WWF recognizes that the recovery and development of Asia's tourism industry will have a profound impact on the development of the global tourism industry, and the improvement of natural conditions in tourist destinations is the key cornerstone of the prosperity of the tourism industry. However, according to the Living Planet Report published by WWF, the average number of monitored wildlife populations has decreased by 69% since 1970. Humans are over-consuming natural resources at an unprecedented rate. Southeast Asia has rich biodiversity and wildlife resources, and is one of the most popular outbound travel destinations for Chinese citizens. Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and other countries are also important destinations and transit countries for illegal wildlife trade, gathering a large number of illegal wildlife products from Africa and Southeast Asia. Therefore, WWF closely promotes industry dialogue on issues such as restoring biodiversity, reducing illegal wildlife trade, and using resources efficiently and sustainably, encouraging the tourism industry to do a good job in publicity and education, enhance the ecological protection awareness of travelers, and practice responsible consumption behavior.

WWF Deputy Director-General Zhou Fei said: "The members of the Sustainable Travel Alliance on site, as well as representatives of tourism-related associations and companies in China, Thailand and other countries, are not only messengers of cultural transmission, but also practitioners of sustainable development of the tourism industry. WWF has always advocated: responsible tourism! I hope that industry partners will convey this concept to their respective customers or companies. Whether it is a carefully planned tour or a spontaneous tour, when we enjoy poetry and distant places, we only leave behind good memories, not too much ecological footprint."

Speech by Zhou Fei, Deputy Director-General of WWF Beijing Office

On September 4, 2020, WWF jointly launched the "Sustainable Travel Alliance" (hereinafter referred to as the "Alliance") with relevant industry associations and companies. So far, the number of members has grown from the original 21 to the current 46. Over the past three years, members have continued to work on "protecting endangered species and their habitats, curbing illegal wildlife trade; saving resources, reducing food waste, and reducing marine plastic waste pollution". The "Sustainable Travel Alliance" is also considered to be one of the important platforms for relevant parties to implement the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Members will incorporate concepts such as maintaining biodiversity and protecting endangered species into their own products and services, effectively curbing the destruction of natural resources in tourist destinations and preventing illegal wildlife trafficking.

Zhang Bei, WWF's flagship project manager for combating illegal trade in endangered species, introduced the work results of the Sustainable Travel Alliance

Yin Feng, chief engineer of the China Wildlife Conservation Association, introduced the relevant policies and actions of China's new Wildlife Protection Law. Data showed that the focus should be on influencing people entering and leaving the country to refuse to illegally carry and transport endangered species products. He said: "The Chinese government attaches great importance to wildlife protection and has launched many crackdowns on illegal wildlife trade. Relevant industries such as tourism, Internet, express logistics, etc. have also actively assisted law enforcement agencies and publicity, faithfully fulfilled their social responsibilities, and produced good results in curbing illegal wildlife trade. With the recovery of global tourism, tourism companies have become an indispensable part of practicing sustainable lifestyles and promoting the healthy development of the industry."

Yin Feng, Chief Engineer of China Wildlife Conservation Association, delivered a speech

Representatives from industries and companies such as Qyer.com, Ctrip Group, Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), Countryside Group, VISA China, Sina Weibo, as well as the Hotel Association and Travel Agency Association from Thailand shared their best practices and achievements in "sustainable travel", and conducted useful discussions from different perspectives on how to protect biodiversity and reduce illegal wildlife trade, and how to create a sustainable future for the tourism industry through industry and cross-border cooperation, exploring more effective sustainable development models and opportunities for the industry.

Gao Jingjing, Deputy Secretary General of the China Travel Service Association, mentioned in his speech that the association, based on its understanding of the industry for many years, has fully integrated industry resources, formulated standards and principles for enterprises to practice sustainable travel, promoted the introduction of relevant policies and regulations, and promoted exchanges within and outside the industry. For example, it has recently cooperated with WWF to provide public welfare training and assessment of "sustainable travel practitioners" to tourism practitioners, and promoted the green and sustainable development of the industry in terms of endangered species and ecological environment protection, efficient use and conservation of resources.

Gao Jingjing, Deputy Secretary General of the China Travel Service Association, delivered a speech

Yu Zeli, Chairman of the Thai Professional Tour Guide Association, welcomed Chinese citizens to return to Thailand to experience a sustainable and colorful Thailand. He mentioned that elephants are the sacred animals of Thailand, but the number of wild elephants is decreasing. In order to protect Asian elephants, the Thai government is also vigorously advocating "green travel" to protect elephants and their living environment and prevent illegal trade in wild animals. He thanked WWF for its efforts to protect Asian elephants and called on the international community to continue to pay attention to elephant protection so as to achieve harmonious coexistence with humans.

Yu Zeli, Chairman of the Professional Tour Guide Association of Thailand

The "Sustainable Travel Guide (Trial)" (hereinafter referred to as the "Guide"), jointly completed by WWF and the China Tourism Academy, was released for the first time at this side event. The "Guide" is divided into travel service providers, hotels, and travelers (https://wwfchina.org/publications), and is committed to providing the travel accommodation industry and travelers with a "sustainable travel" practice method that is scientifically meaningful, practical, effective, and easy to operate.

Finally, the "zero tolerance for illegal wildlife trade" commitment made jointly by the guests at the conference also became a highlight of this event. In the future, WWF will work with its members to innovate cooperation models based on its scientific research conclusions, create best practices in the industry, and promote the mutual benefit of high-quality development of the tourism industry and ecological and environmental protection.

The guests at the conference used recycled sea glass to assemble an elephant to express their commitment to zero tolerance for illegal wildlife trade

Group photo of guests

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