Responsible Wildlife Tourism

India is a country rich in diversity. In every part of the country, one will find that nothing is the same, be it the language, food, culture or geography. That is also the beauty, charm and USP of this country

- Anupa Roy

It is a well-known fact that India has some of the best wildlife populations in the world. Our Forest Reserves, National Parks, Coastal Mangroves are teeming with a vast range from the Animal Kingdom, in perfect tandem with an equally amazing range of flora and fauna. Being a popular tourist destination, people travel here from the world over, for its culture, history, beauty, diversity and wild adventures.

Hence, the emergence of a different kind of tourism started taking shape. Wildlife Tourism. A common enough term now, a fully functional, multi-pronged, thriving industry. People have jumped on the bandwagon with alacrity, recognising the potential and scope of this venture. Wildlife Tourism is a niche industry. It's also quite selective and a passion-based business. It's not everyone's cup of tea to go deep into jungles, with nothing around but nature and wildlife, having to get up at dawn to drive around trying to catch sight of wildlife. While, for others, this exact scenario is the ultimate experience.

There are a lot of aspects that are involved in running Wildlife Tourism, some good and some not so good. To be frank, it's sensitive and there is a balance that is in play. Wildlife Tourism happens in our Tiger Reserves, National Parks and Sanctuaries. It is structured and guided and needs well-coordinated management from several departments as well as private service providers.

Today it's one of the most lucrative and successful areas of tourism due to the rise in popularity of wild exciting, up close and personal encounters with wildlife, foreigners yearning for an exotic experience, the rise of photographers, people who just want the thrill. On a more practical note, tourism has flourished due to infrastructure being set up, proper management of the logistics and a choice of options for people to choose tailor-made tours.