Exotic Adventures

Exotic Adventures

Case Synopsis

Exotic Adventures Inc. (EAI) operates a fleet of remodeled research vessels that have been converted for leisure expedition traveling mainly in the Polar Regions. Additional voyages in between the seasons of the Polar Regions voyages were added to the islands of the South Pacific, Atlantic and Amazon River basin to defray company costs. EAI’s Amazon River voyages were originally planned to run only during the high water season, covering the full, 2,600 mile- navigable length of the Amazon River from Belem, Brazil to Iquitos, Peru. But at the suggestion of some prominent naturalists who were hoping to see more wildlife during the trip, EAI researched the opportunities to travel the river during the low water season, the dry season, and found that the minimum water depths reported during that time period should also be sufficient to operate its vessels. (Shaw, Exotic Adventures Inc: The Amazon River Voyage, 1999)

State the Assignment Question

However, just in the weeks just prior to the launch of the first low water season voyage, EAI received word from its agents in Brazil that the Amazon River water levels were unusually low and the Brazilian pilots who were required to also be present on foreign flagged ships on the river would not agree to take the EAI ship past the halfway voyage point of Manaus. However, EAI’s agents in Peru said the water levels were fine. The question: Should Exotic Adventures Inc. cancel the low water upriver and down river voyages or continue with the voyages as planned? (Shaw, 1999)

Case Analysis

EAI’s voyage tours were designed with adventure and learning in mind. The company successfully operated its first Amazon River tours, an up river voyage and another voyage returning down river, in March 1997 during the high water season. (Shaw, 1999) The wet season or high water season generally runs from January to June and traveling during this time enables tremendous access to view wildlife although...