Blue Origin offers space tourism, and doomed OceanGate Titan went to the Titanic, but most rich travellers want exclusivity, not risky adventures

Billionaires Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson went to space, and other wealthy travellers trawled the ocean’s depths in doomed Titan sub. But this isn’t the norm

Most rich tourists want exclusivity without the risk, preferring pursuits such as luxury safaris, Ferrari test drives or eagle hunting in Mongolia, insiders say

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Richard Branson likes to hang off skyscrapers, and his company Virgin Galactic takes the ultra rich to space. But these aren’t the preferences of your average wealthy traveler. Photo: Twitter / @richardbranson

Published: 5:15pm, 1 Jul 2023

Clad in a blue jumpsuit and dangling from the side of a skyscraper 360 metres above New York, billionaire Richard Branson urged viewers on Twitter last week to live life to the fullest and try new things.

As the founder of space tourism company Virgin Galactic, Branson is among a handful of ultra-wealthy entrepreneurs pushing the limits of exploration and experiences.

Some billionaires, including Branson and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, have rocketed into space, while other rich travellers have journeyed on a submersible to explore the wreckage of the ocean liner Titanic. Five who made that trip last week lost their lives.

Most wealthy people, though, want a less extreme but exclusive experience, according to Wall Street investors, bankers, lawyers and those who sell exotic holidays.

Branson (left) experiencing zero gravity on a Virgin Galactic space flight in 2021. Photo: EPA-EFE

Jeff Bezos’ space exploration company Blue Origin has sent numerous humans, including Bezos himself, to space. Photo: TNS

“Our public already has access to luxury hotels; what [wealthy travellers] want is a different experience and personal development,” says Alexandre Cymbalista, chief executive of Brazilian travel agency Latitudes Viagens.

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