Travellers 'seeking immersive wildlife experiences over beach holidays', says Wendy Wu

Travellers are increasingly seeking “memorable and immersive experiences” involving wildlife, as opposed to typical beach holidays, according to Wendy Wu Tours owner Wendy Wu. 

 

 

 

 

 

“It doesn’t matter where you go in the world, [travellers] want to be close to wildlife,” she said.

 

Sarah Schlederer, Quark Expeditions’ national strategic key account manager for the UK and Ireland, agreed wildlife encounters during expedition cruises are a key draw for bookings: “The best salespeople out there are past passengers who tell stories about going up to the Arctic and all the polar bears they saw.”

 

Wildlife is also a key feature of luxury rail itineraries, according to Rocky Mountaineer’s UK national sales manager Hazel Mansell, who said the train’s onboard hosts communicate by radio so guests can be notified of wildlife sightings such as bears, wolves, elk, moose and eagles.

 

She said: “These are wild animals that are in their natural habitat, so you’re really privileged to get to experience that while giving them space from a good distance away.”

 

Fox emphasised the importance of a “sense of responsibility” in wildlife tourism, adding: “There are some who don’t treat that privilege with the respect it deserves. If [an operator] looks a little cheap or bit cowboyish, they probably are.

 

“It’s so important that we protect [wildlife] so our future generations can enjoy [it] as well.”