HCMC – Around 40 hospitality businesses yesterday, September 27, made a commitment to ramp up efforts in responsible tourism development at the Cat Tien National Park in the southern province of Dong Nai.
The signing was part of a workshop to promote wild species conservation and environmental protection via responsible tourism, held by the World Wide Fund for Nature in Vietnam (WWF-Vietnam) and local authorities.
The event was expected to raise awareness about wildlife conservation by bringing together government officials and the local business community.
Nguyen Thuy Hang, a representative from the Sustainable Forest Management and Biodiversity Conservation (VFBC) project, emphasized the need for collective involvement from the community in safeguarding the ecological environment given the prevailing issue of rampant wildlife hunting.
She highlighted the growing role of tourism as it bridges the public and private sectors to work for mutual benefits.
Pham Ngoc Hung, deputy chairman of the Tan Phu People’s Committee in Dong Nai Province, praised international organizations for their support with long-term environmental efforts in Cat Tien National Park. He said local authorities have plans to improve forest development and follow green growth goals.
During the event, Vo Hong Van, a representative of the Saigon Times Group, presented the “Safe Destinations” logo to Pham Xuan Thinh, director of Cat Tien National Park, recognizing it as a member of the Safe Destinations project.
Safe Destinations is a program initiated by the Saigon Times Group, aimed at developing a sustainable and safe tourism market. The program brings together businesses that have been operating for at least six months in tourism-related sectors who share the same goal of fostering a green, sustainable, and safe tourism sector.
Covering nearly 71,200 hectares, Cat Tien National Park features over 1,655 plant species and around 1,730 animal species. With rich biodiversity, the park is a destination for tourists interested in ecotourism and biodiversity research.
The WWF-Vietnam has been partnering with the park since the 1990s on various projects. In particular, the VFBC program focuses on enhancing awareness of forest conservation, equipping forest patrol teams, and training conservation staff. It also aims to provide livelihoods for communities living near the forest.
