Wildlife Hunting Tourism Is Highly Popular Activity in Southern Africa With 90% of Industry Takes Place in This Region

 

Wildlife Hunting Tourism

While wildlife hunting tourism is a controversial and paradoxical sector of global tourism, the business is thriving. According to Franklin (2008), It is growing as it reflects a desire to hunt charismatic mega fauna in remote locations. While a hunter may want to enjoy the thrill of killing a rare animal, a tourist may be interested in the experience however, not the environment or the culture. In this case, the tourism industry must be more responsible. It is permitted in 23 countries in Africa, with the vast majority of hunting tourists hailing from outside the continent. Hunting tourism is a highly popular activity in southern Africa, with 90% of the industry taking place there. Although hunting in Kenya is illegal, the country is home to one of the largest safari industries in Africa. A hunter who enjoys wildlife should consider this aspect of tourism before making a decision.

The global Wildlife Hunting Tourism Market was valued at US$ 276.2 Mn in 2020 and is expected to reach US$ 1,841.5 Mn by 2028, exhibiting a CAGR of 16.5% during the forecast period.

Besides being an ethical issue, hunting tourism has its share of environmental problems. Some countries restrict hunting as it threatens the species. Hunting tourists may take part in unethical activities while on holiday. In Canada, the hunting industry uses conservation principles to ensure the welfare of polar bears. It also encourages angling in Namibia. All in all, wildlife hunting tourism is a controversial business, and many countries are enforcing strict regulations to protect it. While trophy hunting is a popular form of tourism, it also has its disadvantages. Along with destroying animal habitats, trophy hunting can bring tourists to areas where traditional tourism activities are not practical. For instance, trophy hunting in Africa is legal in certain countries like Chad, the Central African Republic, and Burkina Faso. However, this activity is more environmentally friendly than photographic surveys, which do not require roads or other infrastructure. There are a variety of reasons for hunting, from the simple enjoyment of an animal to its more serious benefits. For example, people may hunt in order to obtain useful animal products to use as trophies. Other reasons may be to help a specific species, or to combat overpopulation or to eradicate disease carriers. In August 2021, The Department of Interior, U.S. announced that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service opened new hunting and sports fishing opportunities across 2.1 million acres.