TripAdvisor has announced that it will no longer sell dolphinarium tickets, aquatic mammal shows and similar attractions that do not meet its new animal welfare standards.
TripAdvisor announced that will no longer sell dolphinarium tickets, shows with aquatic mammals and similar attractions that do not meet its new standards for animal welfare.
The well-known tourist portal has taken a very clear stance in favor of animals by officially declaring that it will stop selling tickets to places where shows with marine animals are scheduled. In fact, it does not want to earn money in any way thanks to partnerships with companies that exploit and make animals such as dolphins, whales and seals suffer just to entertain the public.
In this way, the most famous tourist review platform in the world wants to make its contribution to prevent new generations of marine animals from being locked up in captivity with all that goes with it. The decision, not surprisingly, was taken following consultations with marine biologists, zoologists and environmentalists who have brought scientific evidence of the conditions in which animals are forced to live in captivity.
We know well, and we have spoken to you several times, of how much animal suffering there is behind the apparent enjoyment that dolphinaria and similar places offer. Do you remember for example the abused dolphins in Madrid or the puppy who died during a show?
But back to TripAdvisor, as announced in a note:
"Any business that raises or imports cetaceans to show them to the public will no longer be able to sell tickets on TripAdvisor and Viator (subsidiary brand in which to book tours and tourist activities ed)"
The products that can currently still be purchased will all be removed and the new portal policy will be effectively and fully active at the end of the year. (Here you can find the complete policy of TripAdvisor regarding animals)
The statement released by the company's director of corporate communications, James Kay, is very clear. To continue any type of business relationship with TripAdvisor, companies should:
"Publicly commit to cease any breeding and importation of cetaceans to be shown with immediate effect or to develop alternative models such as sea sanctuaries (which in fact are not part of the new policy on TripAdvisor, ed)"
Sea sanctuaries are places where animals are free to stay in their own habitat but where they are still monitored and safeguarded.
TripAdvisor Experiences and Rentals president Dermot Halpin also spoke on the issue hoping that in the future whales and dolphins can only live free in the sea, their natural environment.
He then added a very important thing:
"We hope that this position will be widely adopted in the travel industry"
The policy of the well-known tourism portal, launched in 2016, already committed TripAdvisor and Viator not to sell tickets for tours or other activities in which there was physical contact between wild animals and travelers. This was then updated in 2018 with the discontinuation of sales of humiliating animal shows.
Today a further step has been taken in the right direction, which we hope will soon be followed by companies in the tourism sector.
Read also:
- Thomas Cook, the tour operator that will no longer sell water park tickets with captive killer whales
- Enough Phajaan, the exploitation of elephants for tourism, The petition against Tripadvisor and Lonely Planet
- Swimming with dolphins prohibited! Too much stress for the animals, the ruling of the Tar
- Zoomarine, victory for the dolphins: the ban on swimming with visitors confirmed
- France towards the end of the captivity of dolphins and killer whales
