MPs including a former Abta executive have called for a crackdown on UK tour operators selling and advertising ‘low-welfare’ animal experiences to holidaymakers overseas.
They highlighted concerns about activities such as dolphin selfies, elephant rides and the petting of wild big cats – and the role played by UK travel firms and social media influencers.
Their comments came during a debate on Friday (February 3) about the Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Bill, which has been put forward by Conservative MP Angela Richardson (Guildford).
Luke Pollard – the Labour MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport and Abta’s head of public affairs from 2009 to 2013 – said: “This is an area in which I feel passionately about, not only from my time on the front bench in the shadow environment team but also my time working for Abta and having previously worked with companies like Thomas Cook and other tourism companies.
“There has been much good work done on a voluntary basis by the industry but it is clear that there are still far too many people that have not regarded the sale of tourism elements involving animals as something which is, in my view, awful and so we do need to make sure this legislation is brought forward and implemented properly.”
In the Commons I’ve just spoken about my time in the travel industry and the need to make sure that holidays are not sold involving low welfare activities involving animals. Let’s end cruel dolphin selfies and ensure animals have a life well lived pic.twitter.com/fNxQAfwmNY
— Luke Pollard MP (@LukePollard) February 3, 2023
Commenting on dolphin selfies, he said they are “quite common” but can cause “incredible stress” to the animals and their treatment is “horrendous”.
He pointed out that about a third of holidays in the UK are bought as packages, adding: “If you are, for instance, on a Tui holiday and you go to a Tui resort and someone comes into that Tui resort to then sell an animal attraction, I think it is a fair question to the holiday provider about how much control they have over their destination bookings as to whether to allow in an independent trader in that respect to sell a product, if it’s covered by package travel regulations.
“If someone is travelling independently and there is no regulatory oversight of that tourism product, that is a different matter; that is more complicated but still needs dealing with.”
He continued: “We do want all our animals around the world to enjoy not only freedom where possible but a quality of life and a life well lived.
“Far too many animals involved with tourism do not enjoy a life well lived. In fact, they enjoy very little of their life, with much cruelty and pain involved.”
Pollard concluded: “There is a real will within the UK tourism industry, as well as with holidaymakers, to ensure that holidays are ethical are decent, are environmentally sustainable, and don’t put any animals at risk.”
After the debate, Pollard tweeted: “In the Commons I’ve just spoken about my time in the travel industry and the need to make sure that holidays are not sold involving low welfare activities involving animals. Let’s end cruel dolphin selfies and ensure animals have a life well lived.”
Following the second reading of the bill, it will now go to committee stage.