: WWF Thailand
: Nonprofits / องค์กรไม่แสวงหาผลกำไร
: 1018
: 20 December 2024
26 January 2025
TOR - Qualitative research on the motivations and deterrents for Chinese tourists and Thai consumers of ivory and visitors to tiger facilities in Thailand with a focus on the role of the travel and tourism sector
Background
Research conducted by GlobeScan since 2017 has documented high demand for ivory among Chinese visitors to Thailand since China enacted their domestic ban on ivory trade in 2017. Although it is illegal to bring ivory across international borders, Thailand was found to be the destination where the largest percentage of Chinese travelers planned to purchase ivory when they travel overseas. While abroad, tour guides were identified as the main group that suggested visiting shops where ivory was sold, and even facilitating purchases and transport home for Chinese tourists. WWF has commissioned research on Tour Guide Experiences with Chinese Tourists in Thailand Attachment 1
Thailand hosts many tiger facilities that are billed as being for “edu-tainment” and which are frequented by international and domestic visitors. Although these are licensed by the appropriate wildlife authorities, some have been implicated in illegal trade in tigers and their parts and products in the past, including the Kanchanaburi Tiger Temple and the Mukda Tiger Park and Farm. Even without being involved in the trade, these facilities are not contributing to conservation, since the tigers being bred and raised in them are not eligible for release into the wild to boost wild tiger populations. These tiger facilities perpetuate the demand for tiger products and confuse consumers and legitimize the use and purchase of such items. This means wild tigers could face increasing poaching pressure from the persistent or growing demand for these tiger products. In addition, the space given to tigers in these facilities is not sufficient for their wellbeing, and many tigers that are used as props in photos or in interactions with visitors are either drugged or threatened into compliance. Despite these realities, a public perception survey done with Thai nationals shows that many people believe these facilities are not contributing to conservation efforts and that they meet animal welfare standards - see NIDA poll results Attachment 2
With the recent free-visa policy for Chinese travelers to Thailand, the evolving behavior of Chinese tourists especially after the COVID 19 pandemic, the fact that Bangkok was the number one city in 2024 for international traveler arrivals, and the popularity of tiger facilities, this study aims to understand and get insights into the motivations and suggested deterrents for Chinese tourists and Thai consumers that purchase ivory and visitors to tiger facilities in Thailand with a focus on the role of travel and tourism sector
Objective
Target group:
Method:
Qualitative (or mixed method) - in-depth interviews (formal or informal) and focus group discussions with the key actors in the travel and tourism industry, as well as key consumer groups
Project duration: February - March 2025
Focal contacts: Dr Penthai Siriwat penthais@wwf.or.th and Thanisorn Baingern thanisornb@wwf.or.th
WWF Support:
Interested consultants are invited to submit their proposal within 26 January 2025 to penthais@wwf.or.th , thanisornb@wwf.or.th and Cc. procurement@wwf.or.th
The subject line of the email must be marked with title
“Qualitative research on the motivations and deterrents for Chinese tourists and Thai consumers”
