UGANDA: Bird Flu To Affect AviTourism

Tests carried out on dead birds found on the shores of Lake Victoria between the capital Kampala and Entebbe, the location of the international airport, but also in Masaka District, have proved positive of avian flu, government officials confirmed late yesterday and earlier today.

A formal press conference at the Uganda Media Centre where Minister of State of Agriculture, Hon. Kibazanga, has confirmed the presence of the disease in East Africa.

Neighbouring countries also bordering Lake Victoria are said to have instituted prompt measures to raise surveillance and monitoring on local and migratory bird populations to determine if the disease has also spread to their own shores.

Lutembe Bay, a major migratory bird route waypoint into and out of Africa, is one of the locations where dead birds were found.

Global organizations are also said to be preparing emergency support measures for Uganda to contain the outbreak and fight the further spread of the disease.

According to information received from sources close to government is the type of avian flu is unknown to spread to humans but nevertheless have officials called to be careful not to handle domestic chicken and other poultry and in particular not to touch any birds found dead to avoid any possibility of the virus crossing over to humans.

Alerts have been raised before in Uganda mainly because the country is part of the migratory bird corridor into Africa and past training will come in handy now to tackle the outbreak here in Uganda.

Tourists heading to Uganda have been reassured that they are most unlikely to come into contact with infected birds and need not fear or resort to cancelling their safari vacations in Uganda or anywhere else in East Africa for that matter.

MALAYSIA: Birds Can Be Good Tourism, Says Naturalist

Andrew J. Sebastian will be promoting birding and ecotourism in Malaysia at the first American Birding Expo - See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/birds-can-be-a-big-deal-in-tourism-says-naturalist#sthash.pjFq1n4e.dpuf

What Andrew J. Sebastian, naturalist, environmentalist and bird guide, really wants is for Malaysians to look at the photos of birds in Malaysia, and think, “Wow! our country has wonderful things to offer. Birds are a big deal.”

Sebastian’s days and nights are spent talking, educating, promoting and persuading everyone he meets to fall in love with birding, which is the hobby of watching birds.

Malaysia has many species of birds that many Malaysians are not aware of, but foreigners are. This is why he is setting on a new path: championing ecotourism, with a focus on birds.

Sebastian will be presenting Malaysia and promoting birding at the first American Birding Expo, which started yesterday. He is all psyched, to talk about birds, Malaysian birds, Malaysia and ecotourism.

“For the uninitiated, birding is a hobby for people who like to watch birds. It has become a fast growing product around the world and means big business.

“In the United Kingdom, there is a huge birding community, and the Royal Society for The Protection of Birds has over a million members.

“There’s a big market for us and loads of people to come to Malaysia. America has over 44 million bird watchers. USA is a good market. We want to woo them to come over to Malaysia.

“The American Birding Expo is fashioned after the UK bird fair. I will represent Malaysia and man the booth there to woo American birders to come over.”

Malaysia has a diverse species of birds, which cen be promoted to attract bird watchers from all over the world, says Andrew J. Sebastian. – Photo courtesy of Sebastian.Malaysia has a diverse species of birds, which cen be promoted to attract bird watchers from all over the world, says Andrew J. Sebastian. – Photo courtesy of Sebastian.It is said that birdwatching in the US, Canada, and Mexico generates US$25 billion (RM110 billion) per year and it employs over 60,000 people.


Malaysia has a diverse species of birds, which cen be promoted to attract bird watchers from all over the world, says Andrew J. Sebastian.

Livescience reported that, “Avitourism, as this particular sector of the industry is known, is one of the most lucrative sources of income in ecotourism. It accounts for the largest single group of ecotourists across the globe, and according to some estimates, three million international trips are taken each year for the main purpose of bird-watching.“

Malaysia could be an example of ecotourism success, Sebastian said, if only it could organise itself and focus on the wealth the country offers – hiking, nature reserves, the vast mountains and lush green padi fields and jungles, and the vibrant flora and fauna.

Then there are the white sandy beaches of Terengganu and renowned diving spots around the country.

Why is Malaysia’s ecotourism so underdeveloped? For one, Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak have different things to offer.

The peninsula has no champion to promote ecotourism. There are a lot of local champions, but not one star promoter.

Across the pond, there is Datuk Seri Tengku Zainal Adlin, Sabah Tourism Board chairman, who has been pushing ecotourism for many years.

Peninsular Malaysia also has a different growth chart that needs to be developed. Each state has its own idea of ecotourism, and attempts have been rather half-hearted.

Sabah and Sarawak are blessed with nature, culture and heritage and both states are dedicated to ecotourism.

Andrew J. Sebastian says birding can be a lucrative industry in Malaysia. Malaysia does have her share of eco-champions such as Irshad Mobarak and Hymeir Kamaruddin, who promote their nature reserves up north. Still, there is room for more players in Malaysian ecotourism.

However, this could change, with Sebastian as a champion.

“Why me? Firstly I have the passion and interest. Secondly I have been doing birding and eco tourism for a long time.

“We still have a long way to go. I’m trying my best to promote eco-tourism and sustainability in our tourism industry.

"If we can show the government that ecotourism works, then we don’t have to work so hard to build up structures, for we have everything already.”

Sebastian’s passion for birds earned him an invitation from the organisers of the American expo. He then approached Tourism Malaysia who agreed to send him to the US.

“Malaysia is sitting on a gold mine when it comes to ecotourism. We should embrace this and be proud of our treasures. Our birds are our wealth.”