Entertainment and Education

Since animal tourism exists primarily for entertainment, tourists are the main benefactors of the industry. Direct animal interactions serve as unique cultural experiences and are usually the most profound type of wildlife tourism. Viewing opportunities like zoos or whale watching allow more people to access wildlife experiences. Zoos particularly provide a safe and inexpensive way to educate and entertain the public.

Therapeutic Benefits

Wildlife interactions may also have therapeutic benefits for tourists. For many people, socializing with animals decreases stress. Scientists are also discovering that physically interacting with dolphins can jumpstart the cognitive, physical, and behavioral development of kids with disabilities. So the animal tourism industry may benefit visitors simply by making them feel good.

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Sources:

Nathanson D. E., de Castro D., Friend M. & McMahon M. (1997) Effectiveness of Short-Term Dolphin-Assisted Therapy for Children with Severe Disabilities, Anthrozoös, 10:2-3, 90-100, DOI: 10.2752/089279397787001166

Schaul, J. C. (2014, July 1). Conserving Wildlife Through Responsible Tourism: An Interview With Dr.
Michael Hutchins – National Geographic Blog. Retrieved from https://blog.nationalgeographic.org/2014/07/01/conserving-wildlife-through-responsible-tourism… …….-an-interview-with-dr-michael-hutchins/