Birdwatching tourism blooms in Colombia and South Africa, leaves Venezuela and DRC behind—what it means for Thailand
Birdwatching tourism is becoming a powerful ally for biodiversity protection in some countries, helping local communities earn sustainable livelihoods while funding conservation. In Colombia and South Africa, birding travelers are flocking to protected ecosystems, generating steady revenue for habitat preservation, guiding services, and community projects. Yet in Venezuela and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, similar biodiversity wealth remains largely untapped as tourism takes a back seat to instability, governance challenges, and underdeveloped tourist infrastructure. The contrast is not just about bird lists and travel itineraries; it reveals how policy choices, local empowerment, and visitor safety can tilt the balance between conservation success and missed opportunities. For Thailand, the lesson is clear: echo the successful models, address the hurdles, and build a homegrown birding economy that protects habitats while enriching rural communities.