Nagpur riots disrupt wildlife tourism in Pench region

Recent riots in Nagpur have impacted wildlife tourism in the region, particularly around Pench National Park. Resort owners are seeing fewer inquiries and cancellations of existing bookings. Many resort guests are families who are hesitant to travel due to negative news and social media reports. Although Pench and nearby villages have not been affected by the violence, the fear from the riots is influencing tourists' decisions. Resort owners are offering credit notes for affected bookings instead of outright cancellations, allowing guests to reschedule their trips for later dates. Rajesh Agrawal, former chairman of the Travel Agents Association of India in Nagpur, noted that the biggest impact is on foreign tourists, who often cancel due to safety concerns. In contrast, domestic travelers are less likely to cancel quickly, as they understand the local situation better. Tourism experts believe that the initial fear will diminish over time. A resort owner stated that life in Nagpur is returning to normal and that the route from the airport to Pench is running smoothly. They are hopeful that once the panic fueled by social media eases, inbound tourism will bounce back.