Stringent measures needed or wildlife tourism to face extinction

Stringent measures needed or wildlife tourism to face extinction
By admin


A need to develop better guidelines around wildlife tourism has been highlighted by leading tourism companies at World Travel Market in London this week.

"We are breeding less elephants a year than are being killed," Africa's Finest's, Colin Bell said at a panel discussion at the conference, ETN reported.

"Yet the tourism industry has numbed us to what is going on out there."

According to Bell, much of the funding for terrorism in Africa – from Al-Shabaab to the Lords Resistance Army – is linked to poachers, and the scale of poaching has reached such levels the industry needs to address the situation or risk losing potential tourism revenue derived from wildlife sightseeing.

“Africa could lose much of the very wildlife that tourists come to see within 20 years,” Bell warns.

Bell insists the tourism industry needs to channel funds toward wildlife protection across Africa and has proposed a 1% tariff to fund the cause.

"Are we going to be the saviour, or are we going to be the destroyer?" Bell asked crowds attending the session at WTM.

Meanwhile, ETN reports Intrepid Travel’s Geoff Manchester highlighted the issue of riding captive elephants, saying the company had ceased to offer any “elephant rides” after being alerted to the situation.

"The reality behind elephant riding is that an elephant's spirit has to be crushed," Manchester said.

Manchester said since the company’s ban in May, the topic has been the most discussed on their social media channels, and had “positive impacts on the company's brand”. Manchester said travellers who want to view the animals should instead visit the Elephant Nature Park in Thailand as it is a “better experience for tourists that is also better for elephants”.

Latest News

  • Destinations

Tropical North Queensland action-packed events calendar for adventure enthusiasts

Sporting enthusiasts and adventure seekers are gearing up for an action-packed year in Tropical North Queensland, with a lineup of sports events and adrenaline-pumping experiences set to take centre stage in 2024. Leading the charge is the highly-anticipated return of the Crankworx World Tour ‘Paradise Edition’ to Cairns from 22-26 May 2024. The mountain biking […]

  • Travel Agents

Disney Days returns with Inside Out 2 showing in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Auckland

Time is running out for agents to register their Expression of Interest to an exclusive screening of the much-anticipated Disney and Pixar film, Inside Out 2, hosted by Disney Destinations Australia/New Zealand team and partner United Airlines. Places are limited and applications must be in by 17 May. In addition to the screening of the […]

  • Cruise

Aranui Cruises slashes prices with No Single Supplement and Half Price offers

French Polynesian cargo cruise line Aranui Cruises is slashing thousands off its 2025 Austral and Marquesas Islands cruises with an autumn sale offering 50 per cent off the second guest in a twin share room and no single supplement for solo travellers. On sale until June 21, 2024, Aranui’s 12-day roundtrip voyage from Papeete to […]

  • Destinations

Raes on Wategos celebrates 30th birthday and guests get the presents

World famous luxury boutique hotel Raes on Wategos, in Byron Bay, has launched its 30th birthday celebrations with a Raes Indulgent Escape package. Available for all stays of two nights or more, from June to August, the curated package offers an invitation to indulge in a shared celebration of Raes 30th birthday, whilst revelling in […]