The Rise of Extreme Tourism
Many wealthy individuals worldwide are pursuing adventure and unique experiences by venturing into extreme tourism.
This sector includes activities like deep-sea exploration and space travel. It’s expected to grow at an annual rate of 6.5% by 2030.
Space tourism stands out as a prominent part of this field.
Virgin Galactic’s Pioneering Mission
Virgin Galactic, a private space company from the United States, is launching its first mission with private space travelers.
This marks the company’s second commercial flight, with three individuals embarking on a journey to space.
H Daring Individuals and Extraordinary Journeys
Among these travelers are mother-daughter duo Keisha Sheehy and Anastasia Meyers,
who won seats through a lottery, and 80-year-old former Olympian John Goodwin.
The cost of space travel with Virgin Galactic is approximately 38 million rupees.
Beyond Space Tourism
Deep-Sea Tourism: Exploring Mariana’s Trench for 6.5 Crores The Ocean Gate company used to charge 20 million rupees for an 8-hour trip to the Titanic wreck.
Now, they are preparing to offer a journey to the Mariana Trench for around 65 million rupees.
Pole Tourism: Over 1 Lakh People Witness Antarctica Last year, more than 100,000 people visited Antarctica.
The cost of a 5-day trip is around 6.2 million rupees. For those daring enough to venture to Russia’s Vostok Station in -71.2 degrees Celsius, it could cost around 400,000 rupees.
Mount Tourism: 800 Seek the Summit of Everest Annually Every year, around 800 people attempt to reach the summit of Mount Everest.
Base camp receives around 40,000 visitors annually. The cost for the 14-day trek to base camp is 200,000 rupees per person (100,000 rupees for Indians).
Atomic Tourism: 70,000 Visit Chernobyl Tourists visit Chernobyl to witness the aftermath of the nuclear disaster.
Before the conflict in Ukraine, nearly 70,000 visitors came here annually. A Chernobyl tour costs between 80,000 to 100,000 rupees.
Underwater Caves: 1.5 Million Divers Dive into Cenotes The Sac Actun System comprises water-filled caves beneath the Earth’s surface.
Over 1.5 million tourists explore these caves each year, with a cost of 150,000 rupees.
Storm Tourism: Chasing Tornadoes in the USA Tourists in Tornado Alley, USA, follow storm chasers to experience these natural disasters up close.
More than 200 people participate annually, spending around 300,000 rupees to chase tornadoes.
Future Possibilities and Concerns
Hotels in Space and Other Space Tourism Ventures by 2030
In July 2021, Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin sent four people, including Bezos himself, 100 kilometers above Earth.
Since then, Blue Origin has launched 31 passengers on 11-minute space trips. In September 2021,
Elon Musk’s SpaceX carried four non-professional astronauts close to space.
In 2022, SpaceX sent a team of three to the International Space Station.
Balancing Thrills and Safety Concerns
While extreme tourism offers thrilling experiences, it also brings risks and environmental concerns.
The Titanic expedition disappeared in the Atlantic Ocean in June 2023, resulting in the loss of five lives.
In addition, the growing number of tourists in places like Everest and Antarctica is causing environmental degradation.