Travel booking platform, Agoda, announced its enhanced collaboration with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) at the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF). The expansion includes the Eco Deals Program, now supporting eight conservation projects in Southeast Asia. Agoda has also pledged USD $1 million to WWF-Singapore, a fourfold increase from previous donations, to aid conservation efforts in Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
At a luncheon hosted by Agoda during the ATF, CEO Omri Morgenshtern and WWF-Singapore’s Director of Conservation, Elizabeth Clarke, discussed the vision and goals of the partnership, in which the key initiative involves donating USD $1 for each booking made with participating hotels, as part of Agoda’s focus on responsible tourism and supporting WWF’s conservation projects in the region.
Agoda’s CEO, Omri Morgenshtern, emphasised the company’s responsibility in contributing to destination preservation, stating, “Through our longstanding partnership with WWF under the Eco Deals Program, we aspire to champion initiatives that contribute to the preservation and protection of the world, ensuring it remains an environment for future generations to explore and enjoy.”
The ASEAN Tourism Ministers, represented by H.E. Minister Suanesavanh Vignaket of Laos, applauded collaborations such as Agoda and WWF, citing them as examples contributing significantly to raising awareness about responsible travel and ASEAN as travel destinations. Vivek Kumar, CEO of WWF-Singapore, acknowledged the partnership’s impact, highlighting the need for positive change in Southeast Asia to address the alarming 69% drop in wildlife populations.
The WWF conservation projects supported in the second edition of the Eco Deals Program achieved significant milestones:
- In Singapore, 5 volunteer training sessions for the Cyber Spotters Program were conducted to equip 156 participants with the skills to identify over 6,000 illegal wildlife trade listings on online and social platforms.
- In Cambodia, 41 government and 42 community rangers received training, completing 299 patrols covering over 17,000 km in the protected areas of Srepok and Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuaries, leading to the discovery of 13 illegal logging and poaching sites.
- In Indonesia, a total area of 142.39 hectares was restored through planting activities together with the local communities and stakeholders. 28 camera traps were deployed to monitor wildlife activity, capturing a rare image of a Sumatran Tiger and 2 cubs.
- In Malaysia, 20 teams consisting of 116 individuals patrolled the Belum-Temengor Forest Complex over 2,849 days and marked a second consecutive year of zero active snares were recorded. 282 camera traps were also installed in 141 locations within the landscape to monitor wildlife activity.
- 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.
Agoda’s Eco Deals Program, running from March 3 to December 3, 2024, aims to support projects in marine, forest, and wildlife preservation. In this edition, the program will donate a minimum of USD $500,000, with a target of USD $1 million.
The funds will be allocated to specific projects across the eight participating markets:
Singapore – Strengthening marine conservation in the Southern Islands
Supporting the deployment of underwater video systems in the Southern Islands to analyse and protect diverse coral reefs and marine life.
Malaysia – Strengthening tiger conservation in Belum-Temengor
Preserving critical tiger habitats and addressing poaching activities to increase and protect the dwindling tiger populations in the Belum-Temengor Forest Complex. From an estimated 3,000 Tigers in the 1950s, Tiger populations have rapidly declined to less than 150 individuals primarily due to habitat loss and poaching.
The Philippines – Protecting whale sharks in Donsol
Monitoring and studying the movement and migration patterns of whale sharks to inform conservation strategies and protect this endangered species. The capacities of Butanding Interaction Officers (BIOs) and boat operators will be strengthened to further enhance their operational capabilities. Data collected from the monitoring will help inform conservation strategies to protect this endangered species better.
Indonesia – Ecosystem restoration in Thirty Hills
Restoring the Thirty Hills Landscape, a critical habitat for endangered wildlife, by monitoring, engaging local communities, and building sustainable livelihoods. It hosts 5% of the remaining population of critically endangered Sumatran Tigers and 20% of the remaining population of critically endangered Sumatran Elephants.
Thailand – Elephant conservation in Kuiburi National Park
Supporting habitat improvement activities and community outreach to conserve the rich ecosystems of Kuiburi National Park and its endangered wildlife, including over 200 wild elephants.
Vietnam – Supporting Saola conservation in the Central Annamites landscape
Establishing a rewilding program, scaling up Saola detection, and supporting a rescue and breeding conservation center to protect the critically endangered Saola.
Lao PDR – Supporting the Nong Kham Sen Wetland
Preserving the conserved wetland area’s biodiversity and cultural value by creating educational materials, advisories, and constructing bird hides.
Cambodia – Supporting rangers in the Eastern Plains
Funding and training additional rangers and patrol teams to combat illegal poaching and logging in the Eastern Plains Landscape, a global biodiversity hotspot.
