(TITC) - On 26th January, on the sideline of the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2024, Agoda announced the launch of the Third Edition Eco Deals Program. Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh, Chairman of Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) attended the event.
Leaders and delegates from other countries taking souvenir photo (Photo: Organising Board)
Agoda announced that it has broadened its collaboration with World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), expanding its Eco Deals Program to support eight conservation projects across Southeast Asia. Agoda’s Eco Deals showcases an example of private-public partnership in support of ATF’s theme: “Quality and Responsible Tourism - Sustaining ASEAN Future”.
Mr. Omri Morgenshtern, Chief Executive Officer, Agoda said: “As a company that aims to make travel possible for more people, we recognize we have a responsibility to contribute to the preservation of destinations. Through our longstanding partnership with WWF under the Eco Deals Program and the collaborative support of our hotel partners, we aspire to proactively champion initiatives that contribute to the further preservation and protection of the world, ensuring that it remains an environment for future generations to explore and enjoy.”
Overview of the event (Photo: Organising Board)
Ms. Suanesavanh Vignaket, Minister of Ministry of Information, Culture, Tourism, Laos said, “We invite public and private sectors to actively participate in advancing and cultivating sustainable practices in ASEAN, aligning with the principles outlined in the ASEAN Framework on Sustainable Tourism Development. Noteworthy collaborations such as the partnership between Agoda and WWF serve as excellent examples, contributing significantly to raising awareness about responsible travel and ASEAN as travel destinations.”
Previously, at the meeting with Agoda on 24th January, Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MOCST) of Vietnam highly appreciated the results Agoda has achieved in recent years, especially in the context of the world's digital transformation and the application of a knowledge economy instead of the traditional economy. Agoda has been successful in building an online platform that provides services to tourists and has taken initiatives to protect the environment. Agoda has initiatives to protect rare animals, including elephants, of which Vietnam is also a responsible member to carry out conservation work. The Minister proposed Agoda to implement pilot projects to develop green tourism and protect the sustainable environment in some destinations in Vietnam such as Phu Quoc, Da Nang, and Ha Giang.
Mr. Vivek Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, WWF-Singapore said: “WWF’s latest Living Planet Report reveals a staggering 69% drop in wildlife populations on average in less than a lifetime. As an international hub, WWF-Singapore is well-positioned to continue driving positive change in Southeast Asia. The conservation impact we have achieved over the last two years showcases the tangible effect our collaboration has on the environment. As we embark on our third year of partnership with Agoda, we look forward to expanding projects for marine, forest, and wildlife conservation.”
VNAT’s Chairman Nguyen Trung Khanh and Mr. Omri Morgenshtern, Chief Executive Officer, Agoda (Photo: Organising Board)
In the second edition of the Eco Deals Program, WWF-supported conservation projects have achieved some notable successes. In Vietnam, plans for the procurement of GPS and smartphones using SMART Connect and SMART Mobile for patrols are in place. Training courses have been scheduled to coach 90 rangers and technical staff at Yok Don National Park and the Dak Lak Elephant Conservation Centre on how to use SMART technology during their patrols to better manage and protect wildlife and their habitats.
According to Agoda’s announcement, Agoda will increase its donation to WWF-Singapore four-fold to USD $1 million as part of this year’s Eco Deals Program, supporting the conservation efforts of local WWF offices in eight markets, including ATF host Lao PDR, as well as Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. As per the previous editions of the program, Agoda will donate USD $1 for each hotel booking made on hotels participating in the initiative. These funds will support WWF’s diverse conservation projects, spanning marine, forest, and wildlife preservation, including the protection of Tigers in Malaysia, Whale Sharks in the Philippines, and Elephants in Thailand. The other projects receiving support this year focus on the conservation of Saolas in Vietnam, ecosystem restoration in Indonesia, ranger support in Cambodia, and improvement of urban wetlands in Lao PDR.
Saola conservation in the Truong Son range, Vietnam
Saola in Vietnam (Photo: WWF-Việt Nam)
Vietnam's Central Truong Son region, with an area of 2.3 million hectares, is a global biodiversity hotspot. This place is home to many protected animals, including the Saola. Often called the "Asian Unicorn" due to its rarity and elusiveness, the Saola is a critically endangered animal, threatened by habitat loss, hunting and illegal wildlife trade. The project supports the conservation of this species and its habitat by establishing a rewilding program, expanding the detection range of Saola in 15 river basins and supporting rescue and conservation breeding. In addition, community outreach activities will be conducted in the buffer zone areas of the nature reserve, to communicate with local communities and raise awareness of the importance of local biodiversity.
The Eco Deals Program which is actively onboarding accommodation partners will go live to consumers on 3 March 2024 and run until 3 December 2024.
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