Major travel companies continue their decline.

Some of the biggest names in the travel industry continue to profit from wildlife experiences that drive animals into captivity and often subject them to cruel and inhumane treatment.

The latest “Travel Industry US” report from World Wildlife Fund USA (WAP) shows that among the industry’s current offenders are Groupon and Clock Travel, which scored dismal on WAP’s assessment—which includes identifying research efforts. Because companies have policies against working with captive wildlife and these same companies continue to sell and promote harmful and exploitative animal practices.

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The new report ranks the travel industry’s top booking platforms and tour operators, such as Travel Corporation, Airbnb, Expedia, Booking.com, TripAdvisor/Viator, GetYourGuide and Klook Travel. The most reputable, top-rated companies scored nearly 100 percent and the worst offenders scored in the single digits.

Groupon and Clock Travel scored the lowest in the review, both receiving just 4 percent out of a possible 100. Trailing behind was Trip.com, scoring just 6 percent. Especially when it comes to Groupon, the company has a history of neglecting animal welfare in pursuit of profits.

“Last year, we released a report called Cruel Deals, which found that Groupon was partnering with some of the cruelest wildlife destinations in the U.S.,” Nicole Barnes, WWF US wildlife campaign manager, told TravelPulse. – An interview about the current state of the travel industry. “Companies like Groupon need to realize that continuing to sell these attractions is supporting cruelty.”

WAP has run an active public campaign calling on the Group to stop selling animal cruelty. But the group has not yet responded, according to Barrantes. As WAP continues its efforts to make a difference with Groupon, it urges the public to use the platform to help them book any services – whether it’s a travel-related experience or something as simple as getting your nails done. Local community.

“We’re asking the public to show that they don’t support Groupe’s business until it stops selling these services,” Barrantes says.

If the latest WAP survey data is true, the public can accept WAP calling. According to a recent survey conducted by the International Organization for Animal Welfare:

-79% of Americans believe that tour operators should not sell activities that cause animal suffering

-81% said that if they had the chance, they would prefer to see animals in the wild rather than in captivity

– 60% said they would not travel with a tour operator or company if it promoted the use of animals in entertainment.

This latest industry review was commissioned by WAP but carried out by the University of Surrey, which independently assessed the public commitment of the travel industry’s top companies. Each company is scored on four key metrics:

–Commitment: Does the company have a public safety policy on captive wildlife attractions that applies to all brands?

–Goals and performance; Does the company have time-bound targets for meeting animal welfare commitments and reporting on progress?

– changing industrial supply; Does the company engage with its suppliers and the industry to implement wildlife-friendly changes?

– Changing consumer needs; Does the company provide resources to enable customers to make wildlife-friendly choices?

Travel booking platforms are reviewed to identify if they offer animal attractions such as elephant rides, feeding and washing. taking selfies, feeding, petting and walking with wildlife, including primates and big cats; Swimming with dolphins and other marine life shows, and the sale of any interactive “experiences” involving wildlife.

All these activities involve a life of captivity and cruelty to wild animals. It involves a particularly brutal act known as “Fajan” when riding an elephant. Literally, the word means “to crush”—to crush the spirit of an elephant. Especially – the baby elephant’s divorce from the spirit. The process involves shaking the elephants and routinely bludgeoning them.

Cruelty is practiced throughout Southeast Asia to keep elephants subjugated to humans and to entertain tourists. animal) and hikes, performing circus acts or walking the streets passing local tourist attractions.

As the travel industry as a whole focuses on transitioning to more responsible and sustainable practices to protect the planet and local communities, animal welfare and protection must be a key part of the industry after the stark realities of the Covid-19 pandemic. Focus and efforts moving forward.

“Customers trust travel companies when they make travel choices. It is the travel industry’s responsibility to protect and not exploit animals,” Barantes continued. “When talking about responsible tourism, animal welfare should not be left out of the equation.”

Among the industry’s current leaders in non-exploitation of wildlife for profit, Travel Corporation scored the highest, scoring 75 percent in the new WAP report, followed by Airbnb at 67 percent and Expedia rounding out the trio at 64 percent.

Airbnb is known for working directly with WAP to develop the company’s current animal welfare policy. Additionally, Expedia has seen the biggest improvement since the first report tracking the travel industry was released a few years ago. In 2020, Expedia’s score was just 22 percent, but today it’s 64 percent.

The turnaround comes after a successful public campaign by World Animal Protection that led Expedia to institute a new company policy banning the sale of dolphin and whale tickets and on-stage interactions.

“We always want to commend companies that have achieved great results with their commitment, goals and performance,” Barantes said. Expedia does not support activities where animals are bred for entertainment.

However, Expedia still has some room for improvement, Barrantes added. Researchers could find no evidence of how Expedia engages its suppliers in ensuring wildlife safety and best practices, Barrantes said.

TripAdvisor/Viator—the two other best-known brands in the industry—scored in the middle of the pack at 44 percent. The brands have eliminated captive dolphin and whale tickets and interactions in 2019, but there’s still plenty of room for improvement, WAP says. Both should stop promoting attractions like swimming with dolphins and elephant rides.

“Each positive review that TripAdvisor gives to a captive elephant site allows the demand for these types of harmful attractions to continue and the customer is not properly informed and allows these places to have credibility,” explained Barrantes.

While the report calls for travel companies to change their offerings, the public can take some steps to become responsible wildlife tourists and help drive change forward. Here are some actions to consider:

– Avoid activities that involve driving, touching or feeding wild animals. These activities include the unnatural keeping of wild animals in captivity and often cruelty that visitors do not witness.

-Avoid the worst performing activities in this WAP list. Use your dollars to vote and take your business elsewhere

– Ask for change from travel companies. Write to them to express your thoughts, use social media to connect with them, or even call when possible.

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