GetYourGuide, an online travel agency, is facing protests from World Animal Protection over alleged animal exploitation in its listed activities, such as elephant rides. Despite the protests, the company maintains that it enforces responsible tourism guidelines for its products. At the Skift Global Forum in New York City, the company’s co-founder addressed the protests, while outside the venue, protesters handed out pamphlets to raise awareness about the issue. World Animal Protection claims that GetYourGuide allows operators to list tourism activities that harm animals and published a report on the issue in June.
A spokesperson for GetYourGuide pointed to the responsible tourism guidelines for product evaluation that are available online and to a statement the company issued in June. The statement emphasized that GetYourGuide requires suppliers to have appropriate insurance and safety protocols and removes activities that do not align with their policies. The company stated that they continually evolve their standards and processes for experiences that do not comply with their policies and are committed to reviewing experiences that do not meet their standards. World Animal Protection mentioned that other online travel agencies such as Airbnb, Expedia, and Booking.com have stopped selling tickets to captive wildlife entertainment venues after collaborating with the group to create animal welfare policies.
Liz Cabrera Holtz, the senior campaigns manager in the U.S. for World Animal Protection, expressed disappointment in GetYourGuide’s lack of engagement in meaningful conversation regarding the issue. She stated that after trying to work with the company behind the scenes for about two years, they resorted to public protests in order to bring attention to the issue. Holtz mentioned that GetYourGuide has blocked their emails and they are no longer in dialogue with the company. She also criticized the company for continuing to offer activities that exploit animals, including abusive and endangered experiences with wild animals. Holtz specifically referenced a new listing for elephant riding in India, which she described as one of the cruelest wildlife exploitation experiences available for purchase.
Skift has previously investigated the issue of elephant tourism, highlighting the concerns surrounding the ethics and treatment of animals in such activities. The protests by World Animal Protection against GetYourGuide are part of a larger movement to raise awareness about animal exploitation in the tourism industry and to advocate for responsible travel practices. The ongoing conflict between the activist group and the online travel agency underscores the importance of promoting ethical and sustainable tourism experiences that prioritize animal welfare and environmental conservation. As the conversation around responsible tourism continues to evolve, it is crucial for companies like GetYourGuide to actively engage with stakeholders and address concerns related to ethical practices in the travel industry. By working collaboratively with organizations like World Animal Protection, travel companies can take meaningful steps towards ensuring that their products and activities uphold high standards of animal welfare and environmental protection.
