(TH) Tourism blamed for black market boom

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Bangkok Post

March 8, 2001

 

Drive to curb trade in illegal products

 

by Ploenpote Atthakor

 

Conservationists blame tourism for the continuing illegal trade in wildlife.

 

Although Thailand is a party to the Convention on International Trade in

Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites), this has not made

the trade simply disappear.

 

Instead, black-marketeers have tailored their activities, making them

more difficult for authorities to trace, and tourists are their big

customers.

 

Ivory crafted as souvenirs or costume accessories is at the top of the

illegal trade, Robert Mather of World Wide Fund Thailand Programme

said.

 

He was launching the three-year Wildlife Trade Campaign, aimed at

eradicating the illegal trade in wildlife in tourism-related businesses,

especially hotels.

 

It is a co-operative effort between the WWF Thailand Programme, the

Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Agriculture Ministry, the Education

Ministry, and Danced, a Danish aid agency.

 

Under the project, tourism sector employees, especially tour guides, will

be trained to recognise endangered species in the hope they will help

discourage tourists from buying illegal wildlife products. Those who wish

to buy legal wildlife products, such as accessories made from crocodile

skin, should do so at shops with Cites certification.

 

" A survey conducted under the project found that ivory accounts for over

80% of the trade volume, worth about 140 million baht, followed by

crocodile, snake, bear and tiger organs, " said Mr Mather, who is also

Wildlife Trade Campaign project manager.

 

Hotels are identified as main centres of the wildlife trade in Bangkok

accounting for 62% of business, while tourist spots and border

checkpoints in the provinces account for about 86% of the rural trade.

 

He said co-operation would be sought from hoteliers and tour operators

to help fight the blackmarket.

 

" Establishments which refuse to co-operate may be put on a black list, "

he said.

 

Thongchai Petcharat, deputy permanent secretary for agriculture, said

wildlife smuggling with tourists involved doubled during 1997-98.

 

He conceded that legal loopholes posed a problem for law enforcers.

 

In the case of ivory, Thai law still legalises the use of tusks taken from

domestic elephants.

 

If a raid is made, the burden is on the authorities to prove the ivory in

question came from wild elephants-a very difficult and complicated task,

Mr Thongchai said.

 

Mr Mather said about 99% of ivory in the local market was made from

the tusks of African elephants. Buyers should be told of Cites regulations

prohibiting the trade, he said.

 

Santichai Uachongprasit, deputy governor of the tourism authority, said

his agency planned to add the wildlife trade to the criteria for issuing a

" green hotel certificate " in a bid to encourage hoteliers to help wipe out

the illegal trade.

 

 

© Copyright The Post Publishing Public Co., Ltd. 2001