announced that it would no longer promote or book tickets to “certain wildlife animal interactions.” Those included elephant rides, swimming with dolphins, tiger encounters, and other excursions where wild animals are forced to come in contact with humans.ĭozens of travel sites have stopped offering elephant-ride experiences in tours in recent years, thanks in part to animal rights activists groups, like PETA. Hand-in-hand with TripAdvisor's efforts, other travel booking engines have demanded better care for wildlife, and discontinued selling tickets to interactive experiences with wild animals.

Since the documentary’s release, SeaWorld has discontinued its orca performances and made a pointed effort to focus on animal rehabilitation as opposed to animal interaction. This includes experiences such as elephant riding and swimming with dolphins.Ĭoncern for animal tourism has increased over the years, specifically after the 2013 documentary Blackfish took a backstage look into the troubling treatment of orcas at SeaWorld, and other aquatic parks. In 2016, the travel company enacted an animal welfare policy that prohibited the sale of tickets to any animal experience in which humans have physical contact with wild animals, or where endangered animals are held in captivity. The SeaWorld booking ban is the latest move in TripAdvisor's efforts to be more sensitive to animals and animal rights. The ban is in effect for its flagship TripAdvisor site as well as the popular excursion-booking service it owns, Viator.

That includes SeaWorld: TripAdvisor says that after 'an extensive consultation process with a range of experts, including marine biologists, zoologists and conservationists,' it will no longer sell tickets or generate revenue from keep such sea mammals in captivity. On Wednesday, TripAdvisor banned ticket sales to any parks or attractions that breed, import, or capture whales and dolphins. But don't worry: There are also some new options for tourists to interact with animals on vacation and feel good about the experience. Travel booking sites are increasingly taking an active stand against wildlife activities and tourist attractions that don’t prioritize animal welfare.

Airbnb animal experiences