Promoting nature-based tourism linked to wildlife conservation is believed to be essential for sustainable development in the near future.

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Chalermchai Sri-on said on March 14 that he has visited many national parks in the past several months and discovered that their officials not only have to protect the forests and wildlife from poachers, but also have to provide services to visiting tourists, such as room rentals and food services.

The US Mission to Vietnam and the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA) on September 16 launched two new projects to counter wildlife trafficking and reduce illegal wildlife consumption.

Vietnam has introduced a new National Park Passport, which aims to nurture the development of ecotourism in national parks and nature reserves.

Developing eco-tourism in national parks will provide significant resources to improve the livelihoods of people, especially those in buffer zones.

The Forest Protection Sub-department in the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum has said that since 2018, its units have received 326 wild animals, of which nearly 300 individuals have been released to nature and handed over to national parks, and the rests are being cared for by these units.

Bach Ma and Con Dao National Parks have been nominated to become the 54th and 55th ASEAN Heritage Parks at the 33rd ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting on the Environment, held recently in Cambodia.

National parks in two central provinces of Nghe An and Ha Tinh have strengthened measures to protect wildlife as well as maintain their ecosystems, contributing to environmental protection.

A ban on styrofoam packaging and single-use plastics in national parks in Thailand came into effect on April 6 as a preventative measure to protect wildlife.

Vietnam is home to the most ASEAN Heritage Parks in the region, with 10 parks recognised.

TripAdvisor readers have chosen Phong Nha-Ke Bang in the central province of Quang Binh as one of the world's 25 best national parks.

More tourists now choose national parks as their destinations, which is a positive signal but also exerts pressure on ecosystem and environment.

Thailand plans to set up rescue centres in seven national parks throughout the country, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Surasak Kanchanarat said on December 26.

Instead of being wary about investors, tourism management authorities should collaborate with them in preserving the natural environment, says Dr Nguyen Hoang Tri, Secretary of the National Committee for UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) in Vietnam.