Posted on December, 13 2019
Bangkok 12th December 2019 - WWF Thailand, together with leading conservation and tourism organizations, announced the success of the Travel Ivory Free 2019 campaign at Terminal 21 in Bangkok this Thursday. The campaign reached thousands of travelers with messages about not purchasing ivory and transporting it overseas, which is illegal. And surveys conducted with travelers found that while a high percentage do not intend to buy ivory, more than half still see Thailand as the best place to purchase it.
The campaign is carried out as collaboration with five leading conservation and tourism organizations, including the Department of National Parks, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thai Airways International, LH Mall & Hotel Co, and the Professional Tourist Guides Association of Thailand.
Mr. Jesada Taweekan, Illegal Wildlife Trade Manager for WWF Thailand, stated that the Travel Ivory Free 2019 campaign has continuously emphasized promoting responsible tourism in Thailand, particularly among Chinese travelers. The ongoing campaign has for the past several years aimed to raise awareness about the effects that the illegal ivory trade has on the ability to conserve African and Asian elephants.
“According to a recent study conducted by GlobeScan, Thailand is still the most popular destination for Chinese travelers to buy ivory products,” said Mr. Taweekan. “The study found that the percentage of Chinese outbound tourists who bought ivory in Thailand increased from 18% in 2018 to 27% in 2019. This means we need to put more effort into promoting our conservation messages, and that our outreach must be strategically scaled-up to promote the current laws and regulations that outlaw the transport of ivory and other wildlife products across borders.”
Ms. Duangkamol Wongworachan, Conservation and Marketing Communication Manager at WWF Thailand, revealed the results of the latest quantitative survey done with Chinese travelers who visited Thailand between October and December 2019. The research was conducted in five tourism hotspots in Bangkok: China Town; Watergate (Pratunam); BigC Ratchadumri; Asiatique; and the MBK Center. Of the 214 respondents, 81% said they had no intention to buy ivory products in Thailand, while 48% said they understand that transporting ivory across borders is illegal.
“We also found that 51% of the respondents still consider Thailand to be a prime destination for buying ivory products, compared to only 19% who responded that Myanmar was a good destination, and 10% who responded that Laos, Cambodia and Hong Kong were good destinations,” said Ms. Wongworachan. “WWF Thailand is still working with partners to strengthen the campaign in order to effectively change this perception and deter travelers who might be interested in purchasing ivory.”
Every year, more than 20,000 elephants are killed in Africa, their tusks taken to supply primarily Asian ivory markets. As a result, the population of African elephants has dropped from 1.3 million in 1979 to approximately 415,000 in 2016. If this slaughter continues, the African elephant could go extinct in the wild.
“Trafficking of ivory and other illegal wildlife products is a transnational crime that is on par with drugs trafficking, the arms trade and human trafficking,” emphasized Mr. Taweekan. “Wildlife crime destroys wildlife populations, the livelihoods of local people, and undermines the rule of law. It is a security issue as much as a conservation issue.”
Mr. Nuwat Leelanapata, Director of Wildlife Control at the Department of National Parks, informed participants that not only is it illegal to buy and sell African elephant ivory in Thailand, but that under the newly passed Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act of 2019, there is a maximum penalty of up to 10-years imprisonment and a fine of 1 Million Baht for transporting any ivory into or out of Thailand. The Department of National Parks is working extensively to promote the new law among target audiences, and is planning to provide more public information on the law in major Thai airports, including Don Muang and Suvarnabhumi.
WWF-Thailand, along with key partners, plan to run another campaign during the Lunar New Year celebration around January 25, 2020, another key moment when travelers within Thailand are likely to purchase ivory. More details on the campaign will be shared soon.
As a conservation organization, WWF Thailand hopes to put a complete end to the ivory trade by raising awareness about the plight of African elephants and calling on tourists and Thai citizens to stop buying ivory.
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Note to Editors:
About WWF Thailand
For nearly 60 years, WWF has been protecting the future of nature.
The world’s leading conservation organization, WWF works in 100 countries and is supported by more than one million members in the United States and close to five million globally. WWF's unique way of working combines global reach with a foundation in science, involves action at every level from local to global, and ensures the delivery of innovative solutions that meet the needs of both people and nature.
For more information, visit: www.wwf.or.th
Contact information:
Ms. Duangkamol Wong
Conservation Marketing and Communications Manager
T: 02-618-4303-05 #107
M: 092-661-9561
