World Bird Fair 2025, Taiwan

Trip Report: Participation in World Bird Fair 2025, Taiwan

From: Iqbal Ahmad, COO, Asian Adventures
Along with: Mr. Mohit Aggarwal, Founder & CEO, Asian Adventures and Founder & Director, Global Wildlife Fair
Dates: Travel from India on 18–19 September; Fair events 19–22 September; Return flight postponed due to weather

Introduction & Purpose

It was a profound honour for Asian Adventures to participate in the inaugural World Bird Fair 2025 in Taichung, Taiwan. Our objective was to proudly represent Asian Adventures and Global Wildlife Fair on an international stage, to showcase our birding and ecotourism destinations, and to engage with the worldwide birding and conservation community.

Through our participation, we promoted birding tours across India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Borneo, the Arctic, and the Antarctic. We also introduced and highlighted the Global Wildlife Fair to be held in New Delhi, India, from 10–12 October 2025. This upcoming event will be a landmark gathering of conservationists, ecotourism experts, photographers, artists, researchers, and travel professionals, creating a vibrant global platform for wildlife and nature.

Our travel to Taiwan also gave us the chance to learn from the host country’s incredible biodiversity and conservation models, to appreciate the synergy between tourism and conservation, and to strengthen bonds with peers who share the same mission of safeguarding biodiversity through education, tourism, and collaboration.

Official Event Information

• The first World Bird Fair 2025 took place in Taichung City, hosted by the Tourism Administration of Taiwan and organized by the Tri-Mountain National Scenic Area Headquarters.

• The fair officially ran on 20–21 September, from 09:00 to 17:00 daily, with related events and warm-up activities before and after.

• Opening celebrations featured public events such as bird costume shows, children’s activities, face painting, and creative ecological booths, drawing large participation from families, schools, and communities.

• More than 50 ecological, bird, and conservation organizations from over 30 countries took part, alongside Taiwanese bird clubs, NGOs, tourism authorities, and conservation bodies.

• Taiwan highlighted its 691 recorded bird species, including 32 endemic and numerous sub-endemic species, underscoring its rich natural heritage.

• Associated events included an international ecological forum, exhibitions, and excursions to natural areas such as Daxueshan National Forest Recreation Area, supported by eco-friendly transport and information services.

• Authorities issued warnings during the event regarding Typhoon Ragasa, which threatened to affect air travel around 23–24 September, particularly in Hong Kong.

Our Travel & Participation

• 18–19 September – Travel & Arrival
  We departed New Delhi on 18 September, transited through Hong Kong, and arrived in Taipei on the morning of 19 September.

• 19 September – Meetings & Inaugural Dinner
  On arrival, we attended several scheduled meetings with organizers, exhibitors, and fellow delegates. The inaugural dinner that evening was graciously hosted, creating a warm atmosphere of camaraderie and setting the tone for the fair.

• 20–21 September – Exhibition Days
  Our stand operated under the joint banner of “Asian Adventures and Global Wildlife Fair”. Over two full days (09:00–17:00), we:

  1. Promoted Asian Adventures’ diverse birding and wildlife tours across Asia and beyond.

  2. Actively introduced the Global Wildlife Fair (New Delhi, 10–12 October 2025), presenting it as a unifying platform for global conservation, tourism, research, and education.

  3. Engaged with a wide variety of visitors—birders, scientists, photographers, educators, policy-makers, students, and members of the general public.

  4. Networked with peers from different continents, including established bird fairs, NGOs, and government agencies.

  5. Attended evening dinners arranged by the organizers, which provided valuable informal discussions and deepened relationships with fellow participants.

• 22 September – Post-Fair Day Trip & Change of Plans
  A post-fair ecological tour was scheduled for 22 September. However, we received notice from Cathay Pacific that flights through Hong Kong could be cancelled on 23–24 September due to the advancing Typhoon Ragasa. To avoid the risk of being stranded, we responsibly decided to advance our return flight to 22 September, thereby missing the final tour.

Observations, Learnings & Highlights

• Professionalism & Scale – The fair was superbly organized, with excellent booth management, visitor engagement, and seamless coordination between tourism and conservation agencies.

• Public Engagement – Activities such as ecological games, bird costumes, and youth-focused events were particularly impressive, bridging conservation with education and entertainment.

• Tourism Infrastructure – Taiwan demonstrated how biodiversity tourism can be supported with strong infrastructure: eco-shuttles, information kiosks, and community participation.

• International Cooperation – The presence of so many bird fairs, conservation leaders, and global associations created an inspiring atmosphere of solidarity and collective action.

• Climate Risk Awareness – The typhoon warnings underscored the importance of flexible travel planning, risk management, and building resilience into international event participation.

Gratitude

Our sincere thanks go to:

• The organizers of the World Bird Fair: Tourism Administration of Taiwan, Tri-Mountain National Scenic Area Headquarters, Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, National Parks Service, Taichung City Government, and all local partners.

• Victor Yu, Andrew Sebastian, and Mike Lu – co-founders of the Asian Bird Fair, whose leadership and vision were instrumental in shaping this global event.

• Dr. Veronica – our assigned volunteer at the stand, who tirelessly assisted us in communicating with local visitors despite challenging weather. Her dedication, warmth, and professionalism were invaluable.

• Horacio Matarasso and the South American Bird Fair

• Manshanta Ghimire and the Nepal Bird Fair

• Guto Carvalho and Avistar Brazil

• Herbert Byaruhanga and the African Birding Expo

• The many colleagues, exhibitors, conservationists, and visitors who showed interest in our tours, exchanged ideas, and welcomed the introduction of the Global Wildlife Fair.

• From the Global Wildlife Fair perspective, acknowledgment is also due to Mr. Mohit Aggarwal, Founder & Director, for his vision and leadership, under which the fair in New Delhi is being developed.

Outcomes & Next Steps

• We will follow up with new contacts for collaborations, joint promotions, and potential familiarization tours.

• Best practices observed—public engagement strategies, community integration, education through entertainment, and sustainable infrastructure—will be adapted to our operations.

• Planning for contingencies in future international participations will be further strengthened.

• Preparations for the Global Wildlife Fair 2025 in New Delhi will incorporate the insights and learnings gained in Taiwan, ensuring the event becomes a milestone for global conservation tourism.

Reflections & Conclusion

The trip to Taiwan for the World Bird Fair 2025 has been immensely worthwhile. Despite returning a day earlier due to the looming typhoon, the experience provided rich learning, invaluable networking, international visibility, and renewed inspiration for our work. The fair demonstrated the power of birding and ecotourism to connect people, cultures, and causes across continents.

We return with deep gratitude for the hospitality of the Taiwanese people and organizers, and with admiration for the dedication of our fellow conservation and birding leaders. The event not only strengthened our own mission through Asian Adventures but also provided momentum for the Global Wildlife Fair in India.

I remain humbled by the opportunity and committed to applying the knowledge and relationships gained for the benefit of our guests, our partners, and the global conservation community.

Respectfully submitted,
Iqbal Ahmad
Chief Operating Officer, Asian Adventures