Tourism stakeholders in Mysuru urge govt. to lift ban on safari

The stakeholders in the tourism industry have urged the State government to lift the ban on safari at Kabini, Nagarhole, and Bandipur imposed in the wake of the tiger attacks on farmers.

At a press conference here on Thursday, B.S. Prashanth, president of Mysuru Travels Association, said safari tourism employs a large number of people from the villages surrounding the forest areas, who work as drivers, guides, employees at the lodges, and other support staff.

“These jobs provide stable, dignified livelihoods that have transformed entire communities. A ban would eliminate these opportunities overnight, forcing these families back into economic insecurity,” said a statement issued by the stakeholders of the tourism industry.

“The tourism ecosystem sustains far more than the frontline safari jobs. Farmers, small traders, transporters, construction workers, suppliers, and artisans all depend on the tourism-generated income,” said the statement voicing concern over the impact of the safari shutdown on the inter-connected economy and affecting others also who are not formally part of the tourism sector.

Mysore Hotel Owners’ Association President C. Narayana Gowda, Skal International Mysuru president C.A. Jayakumar, taxi drivers and others were present at the press meet.