Many travel companies still promote exploitive animal tourism experiences

A macaque monkey during a performance at Phuket Zoo, Thailand. Amy Jones / Moving Animals (CNW Group/World Animal Protection)

Even though polls show that a majority of Canadians would refuse to book with a tour operator if they knew they promoted the use of wild animals in entertainment, many companies are still selling these experiences to consumers, says World Animal Protection Canada.

World Animal Protection released its Tracking the Travel Industry report, Monday to independently analyze the public commitments travel companies have, and haven’t, made towards animal welfare.

The research was conducted by the University of Surrey which looked at several major travel companies including Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia, Flight Centre, Groupon, Get Your Guide, Klook, The Travel Corporation (TTC), Trip.com, TripAdvisor / Viator, and TUI/Musement.

In addition, World Animal Protection checked to see if these companies offered common exploitative attractions that involved elephants, primates, big cats, dolphins or other wildlife shows.

A majority of companies reviewed received failing grades for selling exploitative animal experiences and for not encouraging educational, humane and sustainable experiences instead, reported World Animal Protection.

“We are asking responsible travellers to join us in urging these travel companies to do better for animals,” said Melissa Matlow, World Animal Protection Canada’s Campaign Director.

A 2022 Savanta poll found that 84 per cent of Canadians agree that tour operators should avoid activities that cause suffering for wild animals and 62 per cent would not travel with a tour operator if they knew they promoted the use of wild animals in entertainment.

The report acknowledged that some companies have taken positive steps for wildlife over recent years, including Airbnb, Booking.com and The Travel Corporation (TTC), which is headquartered in Canada and owns 40 travel brands, including Trafalgar and Contiki.

Daily travel news for 2023-02-14: Canada’s airport forecast, Eugene Levy’s new travel show and Rediscovering film cameras

Montreal Trudeau airport welcome to Canada sign
    • Eugene Levy’s new #travel series ‘The Reluctant Traveler’ sounds a lot like Richard Ayoade’s ‘Travel Man,’ but will it be as brilliant?… https://t.co/jdZ8YaDQdY
    • I’ve read essays like these of people who are rediscovering film cameras to capture their #travel memories, but you can’t convince me to go back… https://t.co/93X8pzXzZV
    • People moan about how horrible air #travel is today compared to the so-called ‘Golden Age’ of fifty years ago, but if you were living then, chances are you wouldn’t have even been able to afford to fly… https://t.co/s1iNZ8bs4b
    • So I asked this AI-powered #travel assistant for a can’t miss attraction in Puebla, Mexico and its answer was less than intelligible… https://t.co/aZaPkIG9BO

 

Daily travel news for 2023-02-13: AI hype, The Diefenbunker and Discovering Oaxaca’s coast

    • One of my favourite museums has made it to the pages of the New York Times: the Diefenbunker in Ottawa… https://t.co/abe3spFLiW

 

Booking.com is the only travel company with a spot in this year’s Super Bowl ad lineup

Melissa McCarthy Super Bowl booking.com ad

The fact that there are zero crypto advertisements in this year’s Super Bowl is not a good sign for that industry, but what does it mean that there’s only one travel-related advertiser?

Last year’s big game featured three travel-themed advertisements, but in 2023, only Booking.com shelled out the big bucks again this year to air a spot for broadcast in the United States. Perhaps it means that travel businesses are doing so well  that they don’t need to advertise at the moment. Or maybe the competition is eating Booking.com’s lunch and they need to catch up. Whatever the reason, here is their spot which stars comedian Melissa McCarthy:

It reminds me an awful lot of the SkipTheDishes.com advert with Katy Perry, but with a less catchy tune and less inspired costumes.

So has Melissa McCarthy inspired you to book your next trip with Booking.com or has Katy Perry convinced you to stay home and order something to eat instead?

If you want to see all of the other ads that aired during the big game, follow this link.

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Daily travel news for 2023-02-08: Tourism Resilience Day, All-you-can-fly airlines and The safest seat on a plane

    • Mark February 17 on your calendars. The United Nations has approved Jamaica’s resolution to set that date as Global Tourism Resilience Day… https://t.co/Zz8vZcSAZJ
    • Don’t you hate when you’re stuck in a middle seat in the back of a plane? You might not if the plane crashes. It’s the safest seat on the aircraft… https://t.co/9pznDAPfss
    • This airline passenger paid extra for a window seat. That’s technically what he got, but he’s not happy and who would be?… https://t.co/fVwsXxdxXa
    • This Italian museum that displays plastic objects collected from beaches demonstrates just how long the stuff we throw out actually hangs around… https://t.co/ta1q48LRa9
    • You’ve got to love this story about a northern Ontario #hotel that attracts the attention of passersby by stuffing cars into a snowbank… https://t.co/3zrjgZl1Wl
    • In his new book, Montreal writer Mark Abley reflects on a 1978 trek along the Hippie Trail from Turkey to Nepal, the last year it was safe to do so… https://t.co/oF1C8yMj11