Tourism associations and hotel owners in Mysuru are making an urgent appeal to the Karnataka state government. They want the immediate reopening of the forest safari at Bandipur and Nagarahole Tiger Reserves. The safari was shut down nearly a month ago following a series of fatal tiger attacks on humans.
Ban Ordered After Fatal Attacks
The decision to halt tourism activities was taken by Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre on November 7. This order came in response to a tragic sequence of events where four humans were attacked by tigers within three weeks. The incidents occurred on the forest fringes near Sarguru taluk in Mysuru district. Three people were killed on the spot, while one was left severely injured.
Economic Fallout and Foreign Tourist Impact
The closure is causing significant economic distress, according to tourism stakeholders. BS Prashanth, President of the Mysuru Travels' Association, stated that the sector is ready to follow any safety rules the government mandates. He warned that the continued ban would have a severe and long-lasting impact on tourism in the region.
Prashanth highlighted that foreign tourists, who plan their trips months in advance, are particularly affected. Bandipur and Nagarahole are major attractions on international tourism platforms. "During the end of the year, they reach South India to enjoy the biodiversity. Already, bookings are made, and foreign tourists have started their journey," he explained, adding that international travel agents are upset.
Local Livelihoods Suffer
The ripple effect extends beyond tour operators and resorts. Prashanth pointed out that families supplying vegetables, milk, and other daily essentials to the resorts are now facing severe hardship due to the lack of tourism activity.
Stakeholders Claim Safari Not the Cause
Tourism promoters argue that the safari ban is a misplaced solution. They emphasize that the safari is conducted in the core areas of the forest, while the recent attacks happened on the fringes, far from these zones. They believe shutting down regulated tourism does not address the root causes of human-animal conflict, which include habitat fragmentation and other factors.
C Narayanagowda, President of the Hotel Owners' Association, criticized the government for not consulting tourism stakeholders before imposing the ban. "The hospitality and tourism sector has created hundreds of jobs. Due to the closure of the safari, the industry is suffering," he said.
Echoing this sentiment, CA Jaykumar, President of SKAL International Mysuru, urged the government to support the sector on which hundreds of families depend.
Scale of the Tourism Business
The organisations revealed the scale of the business at stake. They stated that about 20 resorts operate near these forest areas. Typically, all 250 rooms are fully booked during the year-end season, with foreign tourists constituting approximately 70% of the clientele. The ongoing ban threatens this entire ecosystem.
