Wildlife tourism is a fast-growing section of world tourism, extra so after COVID as many vacationers now search the pure out of doors surroundings.
Sri Lanka has a lot to supply on this house, however we’re nonetheless “treading the same old cow path” selling the identical providing.
Current day vacationers are on the lookout for a extra immersive expertise and understanding of wildlife. Therefore, there should be a change to the method and message. A distinct narrative is required urgently to succeed in out to this necessary section.
Wildlife tourism
According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), world wildlife tourism accounts for 7% of the world tourism business and is rising at an annual progress of about 3%. Wildlife tourism at present employs 22 million folks worldwide straight or not directly and contributes greater than $120 billion to world GDP. Hence it’s apparent that it types a essential part of world tourism sooner or later. This might be bigger within the instant future, since put up pandemic vacationers are searching for out extra out of doors and nature-related immersive experiences throughout their travels.
In Sri Lanka, that is additionally a quickly rising section, the place near 50% of all vacationers visiting the nation made at the least one go to to a wildlife park in 2018 (by far the most effective yr for tourism in Sri Lanka). This was a marked enhance from some 20% in 2015.
In addition, park entrance charges, enhanced revenues from vacationers staying in resorts within the neighborhood, and peripheral earnings by safari jeep drivers usher in a really massive income for the state, non-public sector, and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
In 2018, the earnings from simply 3 of the preferred wildlife parks was a staggering Rs 11 B (USD 72 M) at 2018 alternate charges.
So there is no such thing as a query that wildlife tourism must be an integral section of Sri Lanka’s tourism providing.
Marketing Sri Lanka Wildlife to the world
In spite of the significance of this section for tourism as proven within the forgoing, tourism entrepreneurs nonetheless proceed their outdated methods of promoting wildlife tourism. Operators are nonetheless treading the acquainted cow path, providing vacationers standardized safari excursions maybe only for them to have the ability to see a couple of charismatic species within the wild. When a possible vacationer calls a resort or a journey company to inquire in regards to the wildlife points of interest in Sri Lanka, most frequently the gross sales workers simply offers an itinerary and mentions the animals that might be noticed there.
In immediately’s context, what is required is colourful tales about wildlife in Sri Lanka with a humane experiential contact. Stories should be woven across the many the charismatic wildlife animals and the intimate wildlife experiences in Sri Lanka.
In quick, a completely completely different narrative is required to reinforce the wildlife tourism providing.
Over the years, I’ve been presenting many tales about wild animal people and incidents and few are given under.
Charismatic Individuals
Rambo the Elephant at Uda Walawe Wildlife Park
This mature male elephant has been patrolling the Uda Walawe reservoir bund for greater than a decade, contained in the protecting electrical fence barrier, attracting passers-by. He has turn out to be fairly a star and is maybe one of the crucial photographed wild elephants on this a part of the world.
I’ve interacted with this animal throughout my work at Uda Walawe Park and written extensively about his antics.
A google seek for “Rambo elephant” returned about 2,750,000 outcomes (0.41 seconds). Of course simply “Rambo” alone won’t work as a result of Sylvester Stallone will dominate the house!
Natta the leopard ‘king’ of Wilpattu
Natta is an effective wholesome mature however omewhat elusive specimen of a male leopard who’s the resident “king” at Wilpattu National Park. He is essentially the most wanted for photograph alternatives, which he gladly obliges to if he’s within the temper. He derives his identify “Natta” which suggests a “tail” in Singhalese since his tail is barely damaged on the tip, presumably on account of a struggle with one other leopard throughout his youthful days in establishing his dominance. A google seek for “Natta leopard” resulted in 707,000 outcomes (0.36 seconds).
Sumedha the “king” of Uda Walawe
A mature tusked elephant who frequents the park periodically through the months of June to October normally, Sumedha is undisputedly on the high of the hierarchy within the park after the demise of the previous dominant male “Walawe Raja.” Other males within the park are cautious of him and give him a large berth. He has a really distinguishing and distinguished tennis ball-sized gap in his proper ear and a damaged tail. A google seek for “Sumedha elephant” gave 376,000 outcomes (0.56 seconds).
I’ve extracted their “antics” and constructed characters round them. And I don’t apologize for “humanizing” them. That’s what makes it all of the extra fascinating to folks.
While tales may be constructed round animal characters, uncommon wildlife encounters will also be publicized in a sexy method.
You must “spin the story” and provides it that little “salt and pepper” to make it extra fascinating. Again listed below are a few of my examples.
Wildlife tales
Rambo goes on a “walk about”
Some years in the past, there was concern when Rambo (whom I referred to earlier) all of the sudden went lacking for a number of months from his normal hang-out of the bund of the reservoir. After a search, he was discovered fairly contentedly cohabiting with feminine elephants contained in the park. He was in musth, a periodic manifestation in male elephants the place their testosterone ranges rocket to excessive ranges, indicated by a thick viscous discharge from its temporal glands, and it results in heightened sexual exercise. I gave the story a twist by writing “Rambo disappears, found going for an amorous walk-about.”