Wildlife tourism is a fast-growing section of world tourism, extra so after COVID as many vacationers now search the pure outside setting.
Sri Lanka has a lot to supply on this area, however we’re nonetheless “treading the same old cow path” selling the identical providing.
Current day vacationers are in search of 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 the moment employs 22 million individuals worldwide straight or not directly and contributes greater than $120 billion to international GDP. Hence it’s apparent that it types a essential part of world tourism sooner or later. This may very well be bigger within the rapid future, since publish pandemic vacationers are looking for out extra outside 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 not less than one go to to a wildlife park in 2018 (by far one of the best 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 herald a really giant income for the state, personal 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 trade charges.
So there isn’t a query that wildlife tourism needs to 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 previous methods of selling 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 lodge or a journey company to inquire in regards to the wildlife sights in Sri Lanka, most frequently the gross sales employees simply offers an itinerary and mentions the animals that may very well be noticed there.
In right now’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 brief, a completely completely different narrative is required to boost 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 into fairly a celeb 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 is not going to work as a result of Sylvester Stallone will dominate the area!
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, probably 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 throughout the months of June to October normally, Sumedha is undisputedly on the prime 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 individuals.
While tales will be constructed round animal characters, uncommon wildlife encounters can be publicized in a pretty method.
You have to “spin the story” and provides it that little “salt and pepper” to make it extra fascinating. Again listed here 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) immediately went lacking for a number of months from his ordinary 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.”