Vietnam is ready to share with the global ecotourism community its experience in developing “green” and responsible tourism models based on nature and indigenous culture, with the active participation of local communities toward sustainable development goals.
The stork island in Chi Lang Nam Commune, Thanh Mien district, formerly Hai Duong province and now part of Hai Phong city, is well preserved and a popular tourist destination (Photo: qdnd.vn)
Ornithologist Nguyen Hoai Bao emphasized this in his presentation at the closing session of the first World Congress on Avitourism (Congreso Mundial de Aviturismo) held in Venezuela on October 12.
Bao highlighted the role of ecotourism in promoting socio-economic development and creating stable incomes for local people through guiding, lodging, culinary services, and the sale of handicrafts and agricultural products.
According to Bao, founder of Wildtour, a pioneer in bird-watching and wildlife tourism in Vietnam, ecotourism also supports environmental conservation by generating direct funding for ecosystem and biodiversity protection and by raising public awareness of natural resource preservation. Responsible tourism, he added, allows visitors to experience and learn about nature while helping preserve, honor, and promote the traditional cultural identity of local communities.
Held from October 10 to 12, the Congreso Mundial de Aviturismo brought together leading experts, scholars, and researchers in environment, ecosystems, and sustainable tourism from more than 20 countries. The event marked a milestone in advancing the global trend of linking ecotourism with biodiversity conservation.
In his speech, Venezuelan Minister of Tourism Leticia Gómez said the congress aimed to position Venezuela as an “ecological paradise.” With 1,426 bird species, including 58 endemic ones, Venezuela is affirming its potential to become a hub for international travelers who love exploring the wild. Developing ecotourism, she noted, is not merely an economic strategy but a “green pathway” toward the country’s sustainable future.
Hosted in Mérida state on the Andes mountain range, one of the world’s most biodiverse regions, the congress opened new cooperation opportunities among participating countries, including Vietnam, in sharing conservation experience, developing bird-watching tourism products, and connecting travel businesses between Southeast Asia and South America.
Earlier, at a reception for the Vietnamese delegation, Venezuelan Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Tatiana Pugh Moreno said the world congress was not only a gathering for nature enthusiasts but also a platform for countries to share their aspiration to transform biological resources into drivers of green growth. Vietnam’s participation, she said, reflected the image of a dynamic nation committed to global efforts in conservation and sustainable tourism development.
At the reception, Vietnamese Ambassador to Venezuela Vu Trung My said Vietnam was proud to join the international forum where nations unite to protect humanity’s natural heritage. With nearly 1,000 bird species and rich ecosystems, Vietnam views ecotourism linked with biodiversity conservation as a path toward sustainable growth.
He expressed the country’s desire to expand cooperation with Venezuela and other South American countries, with a view to making tourism both a journey of discovery and a bridge of friendship and shared responsibility for a greener planet.