Airbnb bans controversial camel rides at Egyptian pyramids

Vacation rental company Airbnb has agreed to stop promoting and selling tickets for tours and experiences involving controversial camel and horse rides at the Giza pyramid complex, according to a statement from PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals).

Five other North American travel companies—Black Tomato, Shore Excursions Group, ToursByLocals, Under30Experiences, and World Travel Holdings—have taken the same stance against such rides, described by PETA as “exploitative,” at the historic Egyptian spot. In response, the animal rights nonprofit organization is “sending the companies delicious vegan chocolates.”

PETA and Airbnb have worked closely in the past. In 2019, the rental giant announced policy guidelines governing Animal Experiences, which included banning those with “intentional direct contact with wild animals in the wild including, but not limited to, petting, feeding, or riding animals, except for certain Social Impact Experiences in which the validated…