Vietnam News : Tourists warned to avoid illegal wildlife souvenirs


		Tourists warned to avoid illegal wildlife souvenirs HA NOI — A campaign to raise awareness among tourists of the illegal and unsustainable trade in wild plants and animals was launched by Viet Nam’s Forest Protection Department (FPD) in co-operation with TRAFFIC Southeast Asia–Viet Nam and the British Embassy in Ha Noi. The campaign – the focal point of which will be Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat International airports, land-border crossings, key tourist destinations, and hotels and restaurants – features information materials such as multi-lingual brochures, billboards, and posters. "Many tourists to Viet Nam have bought souvenirs made from threatened wild animals and plants without realising that the products were illegally obtained from the wild or that they require permits for export. As a result, many tourists have had their souvenirs confiscated by customs in Viet Nam or their home country. This not only reflects badly on the image of Viet Nam but these purchases encourage the continuation of illegal trade in wildlife," explained Nguyen Ba Thu, Director of FPD. He added that the campaign aims to resolve this situation and implement better the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in Viet Nam. Viet Nam became a member of CITES in 1994 and since that time has been striving to fulfil the treaty obligations. Despite Viet Nam’s laws that require permits to import and export threatened wildlife, endangered species and their products remain on open sale due to an inappropriate legal frame-work and insufficient, staff-training and equipment. "It is not surprising that many tourists who visit Viet Nam are unfamiliar with the country’s wildlife laws or CITES requirements. Consequently, they often order food in restaurants or purchase souvenirs made from endangered species. A good case in point is the tortoiseshell souvenirs made from critically endangered Hawksbill Turtles. Whilst these souvenirs can currently be legally traded within Viet Nam and are commonly found in gift shops, they cannot actually be legally exported," according to Julie Thomson, the National Representative of TRAFFIC in Viet Nam. According to statistics compiled by Viet Nam’s National Administration of Tourism, over 900,000 tourists visited Viet Nam in the first five months of 2001. The industry is rapidly developing and the unsustainable or illegal trade in wild species to supply the tourist market is seen as potentially threatening the survival of some particularly vulnerable species of wildlife in Viet Nam. It is hoped that FPD’s tourist awareness campaign will not only help protect Viet Nam’s quickly diminishing natural heritage but through providing information on which souvenirs to avoid purchasing, will promote a positive image of Viet Nam amongst its ever-increasing international visitors. — VNS
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