Despite being on forced standby due to global travel restrictions, we have remained busy and have taken the opportunity to do many jobs that we never quite got around to finding the time to do before. This has included designing an exciting new range of tour offerings that we are rolling out over the next 12 months and beyond. It is heartening to see the situation easing a bit now and we are hopeful that we can once again travel with you soon.
As there are still so many unknowns, it is difficult to know where and when we will be able to travel in the foreseeable future. We are of course monitoring the situation closely and also in regular contact with our colleagues and contacts within Australia and around the globe. Our main priority is your health and safety. We plan to continue to keep in touch with each and every one of you who have already booked one of our tours or our accommodation here at Inala to discuss options and make alternative plans as required. We are of course keen to resume touring as soon as possible so that we can continue to support local and often regional communities both within Australia and overseas, especially knowing that this has flow-on effects for the protection of special species around the planet. I am particularly keen to return to places like Uganda where the very existence of Mountain Gorillas depends on tourism income to local communities. But we will ensure that everywhere we visit is safe to do so before we commit to running each tour.
We have been humbled by your show of support for Inala over the past couple of months. Most of you have deferred rather than cancelled your tours with us where we have been unable to run them. And we continue to receive enquiries from our friends as to how we are going. Your concern about the welfare of the Inala team is particularly touching. I fully realise that I have been blessed with an awesome team and must admit they were one of my main concerns when the severity of this pandemic became apparent as it is so important to keep the Inala family intact. But thanks to some government-assisted wage packages and the can-do, positive attitude of the team, we have managed to soldier on and achieve some amazing things. And above all, our beloved furred and feathered friends have continued to be looked after in the manner to which they have become accustomed here at Inala.
Our thoughts and hearts go out to all those who have been affected. We send our heartfelt thanks for your support and trust in the team at Inala to do the best we can to make your special travel experience possible and to make other arrangements if that is not yet possible. We encourage you to dream big and contact us if you have an interest in any of our tours, even if there is some uncertainty about possibilities at this stage. We can keep in touch directly and provide options and updates, and it gives us a better idea of what you would like to do and when. We will shortly be working on more 2022 tours, so its not too late to send through your wish-list.
We miss you all and we can hardly wait to catch up with you again as soon as possible. Please keep in touch, as your friendship means a lot to us. And above all, take care and stay safe and positive.
Tonia and the Inala team
Link to video of Tonia giving an update on the situation
Dr Tonia Cochran. Owner and Managing Director of Inala Nature Tours and Inala Country Accommodation
