It seems timely to remind all tour operators of this declaration at the WTTC (World Travel and Tourism Council) Global Summit in Buenos Aires, 19 April 2018
Illegal Wildlife Trafficking continues to be a major threat to conservation, and also to animal welfare.
Wildlife Tourism Australia was one of the signatories. We also ran a workshop on Illegal Wildlife Trafficking in Sydney in 2017
Travel & Tourism Declaration on Illegal Wildlife Trade
Reproduced with permission from WTTC
We, signatories to the WTTC Buenos Aires Declaration, recognising the devastating impact of illegal wildlife trade on people and wildlife and the positive role Travel & Tourism can play in addressing it on the ground, agree to the Commitments set out below, as they apply to our industry or organisation.
We, as signatories to the Declaration, will not knowingly facilitate the carriage or sale of wildlife products, where the trade in those products is contrary to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and as such is illegal under international laws.
We agree to implement the Commitments relating to our own industry sector or organisational mandate, as part of our intention to tackle this issue and bring an end to illegal wildlife trade.
We agree to evaluate the impact of the Commitments regularly, to assess what has worked and identify and address any challenges.
We ask the entire Travel & Tourism sector to follow our lead and help bring an end to the illegal wildlife trade by signing this Declaration and supporting implementation of the Commitments.
Expression and demonstration of agreement to tackle illegal wildlife trade
- Adopt or encourage the adoption of a zero-tolerance policy regarding illegal wildlife trade.
- Increase consumer, client and staff awareness about the nature, scale and consequences of illegal wildlife trade.
- Promote the Declaration and its Commitments across the entire Travel & Tourism sector and encourage all in thesector to sign up to the Declaration.
Promotion of responsible wildlife-based tourism
- Actively promote a responsible approach to wildlife-based tourism, namely one which has tangible conservation outcomes and a tangible positive benefit to local communities.
- Promote only responsible wildlife-based tourism products.
- Sell only wildlife products that are legal and sustainably sourced and that meet CITES requirements.
Awareness raising among customers, staff and trade networks
- Identify and promote systems for staff and the public to report suspicions in relation to the transportation and sale of illegal wildlife and wildlife products.
- Improve the training of staff within the Travel & Tourism sector to enable them to detect, identify and report suspected illegal wildlife trade, and acknowledge staff who champion this cause.
- Raise awareness among customers, staff and trade networks about illegal wildlife trade and how they can assist in tackling the problem, including by not buying illegal or unsustainably sourced wildlife products.
Engaging with local communities and investing locally
- Engage with local communities to define and deliver a model of wildlife-based tourism which positively impacts the communities where it takes place.
- Identify and promote opportunities for investment in local infrastructure, human capital and community development.
- Promote the benefits of Travel & Tourism to communities where wildlife-based tourism takes place.