After easyJet holidays, Jet2holidays recently became the latest operator to stop selling captive dolphin and whale attractions, and pressure is mounting on those who still do. Gary Noakes reports.
Travel is divided on its stance on cetacean activities and experiences (Credit: iStock)
The days when tourists’ animal rights concerns were confined to grimaces in Spanish bars at bullfighting on TV are over, as easyJet holidays and Jet2holidays have illustrated.
Both have accepted public opinion is changing; mid-March, easyJet holidays pledged not to start offering any captive animal attractions, effectively banning the sale of marine parks and zoos.
Less than a fortnight later, Jet2holidays stopped selling captive dolphin and whale attractions following pressure from animal rights groups.
It’s all part of a step change for the industry – one that is perhaps long overdue.
While operators are clear on issues like modern slavery in their small print, most are less forthcoming about animal rights. Some may even work with suppliers that offer animal attractions despite appearing not to feature them.