Jaipur: Wildlife enthusiasts from India and abroad rushed to secure safari permits as advance bookings for Ranthambore Tiger Reserve’s Oct–Dec 2026 tourism season opened on Aug 1, with nearly 40,000 tourists booking safari slots within the first two hours.The response included around 14,000 foreign tourists, reflecting the reserve’s growing international appeal as well as the smooth functioning of its new digital booking system.Divisional forest officer Manas Singh said the advance booking window for safaris scheduled between Oct 1 and Dec 31, 2026, opened at 12 noon on Aug 1. Many domestic and international visitors accessed the official booking portal simultaneously, leading to a sharp increase in online traffic and booking request. “Despite the heavy rush, the portal continued to function smoothly throughout the booking process. Verification, booking confirmation and live reporting systems operated without interruption, allowing visitors to complete reservations without technical difficulties even during peak traffic.”Unlike at many popular tourist destinations where bookings are filled within minutes, safari seats in different categories remained available even two hours after bookings opened. “The portal displayed seat availability in real time, enabling visitors to choose dates and safari options according to their convenience,” added the official.Officials said availability also remained on several dates during the Diwali, Christmas and other holiday periods.Another official said, “The portal also successfully handled cyber threats during the booking process. The security system blocked around 2 million suspected cyberattack attempts, more than 150 suspicious IP addresses, and over 20 million fake requests, ensuring that the booking process continued without disruption.The new tourism season has also introduced the facility for foreign tourists to book safaris directly through the official portal from their own countries, a service that was previously available only within India. Officials said foreign tourists accounted for nearly 40% of the total bookings, while around 200 foreign tourists directly completed their safari bookings through the official portal from countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and the Netherlands. “The new digital system has been introduced to make the booking process more transparent by displaying real-time seat availability and providing equal booking opportunities for all visitors,” added the official.
