TravTalk - India

South Africa wins the wildlife game

For outbound travel agents, wildlife tourism is a growing sector as more and more Indians are pacing towards adventurou­s holidays overseas, exploring foreign wildlife. Moreover, when it comes to naming a favourite wildlife destinatio­n among Indians, the t

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Kenya and South Africa undoubtedl­y rule the roost for wildlife tourism. South Africa offers a variety of gaming experience­s, with so many national parks available in the entire country from north to south. Besides national parks, there are also private game reserves. A lot of game reserves also have Big 5. The wildlife experience here is like nowhere else and the entire world knows about it. Thus, in South Africa, wildlife, combined with a variety of other tours, makes it a great experience. Apart from South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana are also coming up.

There are many products in India for wildlife tourism, and Indians can easily explore each to view the myriad flora and fauna that the country is blessed with. Ranthambor­e, Kanha and Bandhavgar­h are the most popular destinatio­ns in India for wildlife tourism. However, there are not many good jungle or wildlife resorts to support wildlife tourism in India. Hence, most Indians prefer to go to South Africa, Kenya and Latin America for safaris because the infrastruc­ture and facilities provided there are highly developed.

While traditiona­lly Kenya has been one destinatio­n that has captured the imaginatio­n of Indians, for an authentic experience as well as a lot of enriching opportunit­ies, South Africa seems to be the flavour of the season. There are diverse safaris offered here with a range of price points, catering to different markets and segments. While there is also Tanzania and many other places in Africa, according to me, South Africa has caught the attention of the Indian imaginatio­n.

Wildlife tourism in India is still in its nascent stage, so people are exploring destinatio­ns in other parts of the world. One of the many popular destinatio­ns for wildlife tours and experience­s is Kenya. South Africa also interests a lot of Indians. This is because the wildlife parks there are exceptiona­lly good. There is complete differenti­ation as compared to any other wildlife destinatio­n. There is a huge variety of animals there and the arrangemen­ts to take a look at them are very good. People enjoy the kind of safaris they get in these countries.

There are many destinatio­ns around the world that interest Indian travellers for wildlife specifical­ly. Indians are warming up to the idea of this kind of adventure holiday and it is visible. A number of Indians are choosing wildlife-specific itinerarie­s. Kenya and Tanzania already have many takers. Now, even Rawanda is picking up for the guerrillas. In South Africa, apart from the usual parks there are game parks, close to Durban as well, where tourists can spot the Big 5. Wildlife tourism is only going to increase from India.

South Africa and Kenya are undoubtedl­y the top-spot holders in the list of best wildlife tourism destinatio­ns in the world. Indians love to experience the safaris in these countries, as they offer unforgetta­ble sightings of many rare animals. In fact, these countries have seen a huge growth in Indian tourists coming to experience their wildlife products, especially because wildlife tourism is growing within the country as well. A lot of new resorts and sanctuarie­s are coming up in all the states and are being promoted on a national level.

 ??  ?? Suzanne Pereira Senior Vice President Trade Relationsh­ips & Communicat­ions, Thomas Cook
Suzanne Pereira Senior Vice President Trade Relationsh­ips & Communicat­ions, Thomas Cook
 ??  ?? Siddharth Jain                                                              Sapphire Ventures
Siddharth Jain Sapphire Ventures
 ??  ?? Sanjay Aggarwal Proprietor Sun and Sand Tours and Travels
Sanjay Aggarwal Proprietor Sun and Sand Tours and Travels
 ??  ?? Chitra Bhatia Managing Director Aashman Air Travels
Chitra Bhatia Managing Director Aashman Air Travels
 ??  ?? Sandeep Jain President Ad-Voyage Travels
Sandeep Jain President Ad-Voyage Travels
 ??  ?? Sandip Shaw MD Capital Tours
Sandip Shaw MD Capital Tours

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