Peta protestors descend on Abta Travel Convention
Will PayneProtestors from animal rights charity Peta descended on the Abta Travel Convention on Wednesday (13 October) calling on the association to include dolphin and whale captivity its animal welfare guidelines.
Around a dozen members of the group were outside the East Wintergarden building in London’s Canary Wharf ahead of the convention, including some dressed as orcas.
Some wielded picket signs with slogans including "animal abuse is bad business" and "life in a concrete box is no life".
The charity is urging Abta to add facilities and attractions that exploit dolphins, whales and orcas to its list of unacceptable practices.
"Abta’s animal welfare guidelines lists wild-animal performances among its unacceptable practices," a Peta spokesperson said. "But why is it OK with letting marine mammals endure a life of misery in watery prisons?"
It has accused the travel association of "lagging behind" companies such as Airbnb, British Airways Holidays, Your Co-op Travel and Virgin Holidays, which it says have made commitments not to promote marine parks.
A spokesperson for Abta said the welfare of animals in tourism has been a "huge priority" for its work over the last decade. "We respect people’s right to peacefully protest on issues they care deeply about.
"The standards and practices at animal attractions across the globe vary enormously, which is why we have been working with a range of stakeholders including animal welfare experts, to provide industry guidance to drive improvements in animals’ living conditions and treatment.
"We do understand the opinions expressed by the organisations behind today’s protest and we do have an open dialogue with these organisations about our work and the role of the travel industry in raising standards of animal welfare in tourist attractions."
‘Signposting’
According to Abta, its animal welfare guidance is underpinned by an overview manual which sets out basic animal welfare requirements, which apply to all types of animal activities, including dolphins in captivity.
Following a review of its animal welfare guidelines in 2019, Abta withdrew the dolphin manual because "opinion was split on what the evidence says about being able to manage the welfare needs of dolphins in captivity".
"Instead, we are signposting members to a range of existing evidence," the spokesperson added.
"Members can use this information, as they did the guidelines, to inform their own decision making about what attractions they choose to sell and how they engage with their suppliers."
Sign up for weekday travel news and analysis straight to your inbox
Supplier Directory
Find contacts for 260+ travel suppliers. Type name, company or destination.
Editor's pick
Recommended For You
Latest travel jobs
Junior Africa Sales Consultant
Travel Consultant - Barrhead, Newtownabbey
Cruise Consultant, Glasgow
Competitions
Upcoming events
Place of registration: England and Wales.
Company number 08723341.
Registered address: 6th Floor, 2 London Wall Place, London EC2Y 5AU
