The untimely arrival of COVID-19 has meant that many of us in Hong Kong have been restricted from any overseas travel. However, with the relaxation of many international borders soon and a desperate need for economic stimulus from tourism, there has been an increase in the number of captivating holiday deals in and around Asia.

Asia has always been a highly sought after holiday destination for tourists and travellers from all over the world. Between the region’s tourism-friendly policies, low-cost connectivity and weak currencies, Asia is one of the fastest growing tourism hotspots in the world. A study by GlobalData, an analytic firm, found that in 2018 the region was home to six of the top 10 cities in terms of international visitor arrivals. Numbers of international visitors to the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) region are only set to grow, with an estimated increase from 129.2 million visitors to 155.4 million in 2022. Tourists come to Asia with hopes of experiencing unique cultures, local cuisine as well as some of the most breathtaking natural wonders, including a diverse and exotic range of wildlife that call this part of the world home.

Wildlife tourism in Asia is not new. With the introduction of social media and the endless pursuit for popularity and recognition, tourist encounters with exotic animals have now been driven to unprecedented high. Wildlife tourism essentially caters to people’s love of animals but often seek to maximize profits by exploiting animals from their birth to their death. As a result of this demand, the wildlife that was only ever seen in books or photos, have now been made readily accessible to tourists, who then “share” their experience with their own audiences.

It is only natural to feel a sense of wonder and excitement being so close exotic wildlife. But sadly, the truth is these animals are exploited, tortured and placed in danger on a daily basis, just so tourists pay for a souvenir.

This June, HKALPO will be introducing a series of short articles that highlight the truth behind some of the more common wildlife attractions that one may encounter in and around Asia. We hope that as international travel restrictions begin to be lifted and people begin planning their holidays again, they will be armed with the necessary awareness and knowledge of the numerous animals trapped in wildlife tourism. We encourage everyone to look past to façade of these establishments, and to instead consider the cruelty inflicted on these animals. Their suffering is the true costs of wildlife tourism.