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UNWTO Seeks Tourism Growth Through Awareness About Wildlife

By EDITOR
06 March 2015   |   11:00 pm
IN support of international efforts to tackle   poaching and to strengthen the role of tourism vis-à-vis wildlife crime, United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) is spearheading efforts to increase knowledge on the economic value of wildlife watching in Africa.    A new UNWTO research, “”Towards Measuring the Economic Value of Wildlife Watching Tourism in…

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IN support of international efforts to tackle   poaching and to strengthen the role of tourism vis-à-vis wildlife crime, United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) is spearheading efforts to increase knowledge on the economic value of wildlife watching in Africa. 

  A new UNWTO research, “”Towards Measuring the Economic Value of Wildlife Watching Tourism in Africa,” provides a first overview of this segment, its economic impact and the current involvement of tourism in anti-poaching measures.

  In his message on the occasion of World Wildlife Day,  UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai said, “Poaching is not only destroying precious ecosystems, it also poses a serious threat to socio-economic development. The loss of biodiversity is directly linked to lost development opportunities in the African tourism sector, which provides livelihoods for millions of people”, 

In addition, UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon said, “Illegal wildlife trade undermines the rule of law and threatens national security; it degrades ecosystems and is a major obstacle to the efforts of rural communities and indigenous peoples striving to sustainably manage their natural resources.”

  According to UNWTO’s findings, wildlife watching represents 80 percent of the total annual sales of trips to Africa, with safari as the most popular product. The species most threatened by poaching such as elephants and rhinos, are among the most popular in wildlife watching tours.

  The research also brings further insights into the economic significance of wildlife watching tourism. Alongside generating crucial income for protected areas through entrance fees, a typical wildlife watching tour costs on average US$ 433 and captures an additional US$ 55 in out-of-pocket expenses per person, per day.

 In addition, tours often include locally hired services such as accommodation, transportation, tour guides and cultural performances, creating important job opportunities for the local population.

  Tourism authorities are only involved to a minor extent in anti-poaching efforts and there is room for improvement, the paper indicates. Around 50 percent of the participating tour operators are funding anti-poaching initiatives and/or engaging in nature conservation projects, however only a few are so far proactively informing and engaging their customers on the issue.

  “Given its economic importance, the tourism sector can and should play a key role in raising awareness among both policy makers and tourists on the devastating impacts of wildlife crime, and help finance anti-poaching initiatives. UNWTO remains deeply committed to mobilizing the international tourism community on this critical issue, which requires our immediate action“, added Mr. Rifai.

  In order to advance knowledge of the economic importance of wildlife watching and its potential to directly contribute to conservation efforts, the paper recommends a number of actions for national tourism authorities, including increased involvement in anti-poaching initiatives, systematic integration and evaluation of available data, and capacity building for a more consistent monitoring of protected areas visitors and receipts.

Meanwhile, UNWTO Secretary-General has underscored how the travel and the technological revolutions are shaping society and changing the tourism sector. 

He highlighted three main trends: the emergence of new business models, the call for accountability and the need for shared responsibility.

“Collaborative consumption is breeding new business models as individuals have found ways to profit by sharing their assets, be they real estate, vehicles or skills. While we must welcome innovation, we must also underline the need for the sector to find progressive solutions to safeguard consumer rights and quality standards and to ensure a level playing field for all businesses to thrive competitively”, said Rifai.

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