Travel association says tourism hit due to suspension of jungle safaris

BENGALURU: With increasing cases of man-animal conflict, the state government has suspended jungle safaris in reserve forest areas in the state. However, the state travels’ association says this has dealt a big blow to tourism.

Winter is usually a profitable season for tourism, but the government’s decision has caused a lot of trouble as tourist arrivals are decreasing. Therefore, safety measures should be taken and safaris should be restarted, the association argued.

Radhakrishna Holla, Private Travels Association (Tours and Travels), said that suspending safaris before the New Year has dealt a heavy blow to the tourism and hotel industry. Because of the cancellation of wildlife safaris in Bandipur, Nagarahole and other places, about two lakh resort bookings were cancelled in November alone. This has caused a loss of about Rs 60 crore to the hotel industry, he pointed out.

“Safaris were suspended for about 20 days, but this is the season for carrying tourists on safaris. Actually, business starts in Karnataka from October to February. These four months are crucial to running business and tourists come in large numbers, including foreign tourists. But wildlife safaris have been suspended due to human‑wildlife conflict and the only solution is to lift the suspension,” he added.

The cancellation has also led to job losses for locals. Moreover, a lakh fewer tourists are expected in December and January. Consequently, the Karnataka Tourist Association has written a letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah requesting that jungle safaris be resumed.

S Mahalingaiah, vice‑president, Karnataka Tourism Society, said, “We have received many requests to reopen jungle safaris, but no decision has been taken yet”.

Minister Ishwar Khandre spoke to Public TV and said that while many appeals have been made to reopen the safaris, no decision has been taken as of now on restarting safaris.