Going green
Travel giant Jet2holidays has stopped selling tickets to marine parks with captive mammals such as orcas, dolphins and whales for entertainment.
The welcome move follows a long campaign by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) which features celebrities such as Morrissey and Olivia Bowen.
PETA’S Elisa Allen said: “Jet2holidays made the right call to cut ties with parks that confine orcas and other dolphins to concrete tanks that are, to them, the size of a bathtub and force them to perform circus-like stunts for human entertainment.”
Last month, easyjet holidays announced that it will not promote or sell tickets to any attraction or tourist activity where animals are exploited.
Jet2holidays said: “Following a thorough end-to-end review, we can confirm that we will no longer sell tickets to venues which feature cetaceans (orcas, whales and dolphins) for entertainment.” It added that existing bookings would be honoured.
Most leading British travel companies including British Airways Holidays, Virgin Atlantic Holidays, Club Med, Expedia and Thomas Cook do not sell such tickets. However, the UK’S largest operator, TUI, does offer bookings for Seaworld in Orlando, Florida.
TUI said: “We are currently reviewing the TUI animal welfare policy. We are doing an in-depth analysis of scientific research and having an open dialogue with different stakeholders, including NGOS, scientists and experts to take the most responsible decision.”
This newspaper also declines to cover marine parks with captive orcas, whales and dolphins on its travel pages.