QUESTION FOR THE WEEK: In line with society’s increasingly eco-conscious nature, which six countries have been ranked the best wildlife destinations in the world? 

2 September, 2019

In our new weekly series to break up those Monday morning office blues, The Blue Swan Daily will be testing your knowledge and insight into the aviation and travel industry. This is all just for fun, but who knows? We may be able to find a prize somewhere around CAPA HQ. This week’s question is detailed below. The answers will be revealed and winners (if there are any correct entries) announced next week alongside our next question.


We all have multiple drivers for travel whether that is for business or pleasure. New air services are being launched to support sports tourism, while many markets are seeing a surge in medical tourism. For most of us, especially those road warriors weary from corporate demands, rest and relaxation are important and sunshine and sights never go amiss.

The Blue Swan Daily reported last month about the most adventurous countries in the world, based on Google search volumes around adventure travel phrases. The global survey by Irish small group travel specialist Overland Travel highlighted that safaris and trekking where among the most popular search terms in many of the world’s largest outbound markets.

This is clearly still an important market of travel. Last year, trueluxury.travel launched its first ever Global Wildlife Travel Index set out to discover the best destinations for wildlife enthusiasts. The updated version for 2019 has just been updated to investigate even more elements that create the ideal wildlife travel destination with an increasing move to an eco-conscious outlook and environmental sustainability, environmental prosperity and conservation.

Each nation was ranked by megafauna conservation, wildlife species, prevalence of national parks, national parks pioneers, protected natural areas, forest area, environmental prosperity and environmental sustainability, which together formed the final Travel Index score.

Our QUESTION OF THE WEEK is... In line with society’s increasingly eco-conscious nature, which six countries have been ranked the best wildlife destinations in the world?

JOIN IN THE FUN: Send your answers to: The Blue Swan Daily Content Team

We will be revealing the answers at the same time next week, when we will be setting another question.


Last week we asked… Lufthansa Group chairman and CEO believes the industry will evolve towards just 12 airline companies operating worldwide, with three each in the US, China, the Middle East and Europe. Who do you think these dozen airlines will be?

Obviously there was no right or wrong answer with last week's question. Interestingly, none of the responses we received shared the exact same dozen airlines, although the same nine or ten airlines or airline groups made them on to most of the lists. Those most frequently selected were...

North America - American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines

China - Air China, Cathay Pacific, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines

Middle East - Emirates Airline, Qatar Airways and Saudia

Europe - Air France-KLM, IAG and Lufthansa Group, Turkish Airlines

... but, as one respondent highlighted, many governments WILL NOT let airlines collapse and will probably have the biggest impact on consolidation rather than profitability or the survival of the fittest.