Expedia bans ‘cruel’ travel holidays to see captive dolphins and whales perform

Travel giant Expedia has banned a popular travel holiday to see captive dolphins and whales perform following a massive backlash.

Travel giant Expedia has banned travel holidays to see captive dolphins and whales perform following a massive backlash.

The popular interactive activities – where cash-splashing tourists can “swim with dolphins” – have been black-listed by the travel site amid outcry from animal welfare campaigners and high-profile celebs.

On Friday, an Expedia Twitter statement read: “We recently adjusted our animal welfare policy.

“As a result, attractions and activities that involve performances by or interactions with dolphins and other cetaceans will no longer be available on our sites.”

Expedia has banned travel holidays to see captive dolphins and whales perform.

A spokesperson later told the Mail on Sunday: “Seaside sanctuaries that provide captive animals with a permanent seaside living environment are allowed if they are accredited and do not feature interactions or performances.”

The ban will kick in from early 2022, Expedia confirmed.

Katheryn Wise – Wildlife Campaign Manager at World Animal Protection UK – said: “This is amazing news and something we have been campaigning for since 2019.

“Over 350,000 supporters joined us in signing petitions, raising awareness online and hitting the streets to ask Expedia Group to make this change and we are so pleased that they have listened.

“Through sales and promotion, travel companies play a huge role in driving captive dolphin entertainment and as one of the largest travel companies in the world we are delighted that Expedia Group are making a stand.

The popular interactive activities have been black-listed by the travel site.

“It’s time for other travel giants like TUI to do the right thing and follow suit.”

In 2019, British Airways announced it will no longer sell tickets to attractions such as SeaWorld – which feature animals including whales and dolphins in seemingly cramped enclosures.

The move came weeks after Virgin Holidays announced a similar move.

But the boss of SeaWorld at the time accused British Airways Holidays of “succumbing to pressure” from activists, according to Travel Weekly.

SeaWorld CEO Gus Antorcha told Sun Online Travel in a statement: “When radical animal rights activists mislead and manipulate the truth to the detriment of our planet’s critically endangered animals, you have to question their motives.

“Pressuring companies and trying to shame them into cutting ties with independently accredited zoos and aquariums works against the vital research and conservation work to protect these animals.

Expedia bans ‘cruel’ travel holidays to see captive dolphins and whales perform after backlash.

“We are disappointed that British Airways Holidays succumbed to pressure from animal activists and changed its policy given the facts.”

In 2018, Thomas Cook stopped promoting and selling tickets to SeaWorld after a number of animal rights protests.

SeaWorld was forced to stop pool performances with killer whales following the controversial documentary Blackfish.

The 2013 documentary revealed the life of Tilikum, a killer whale who killed his trainer in 2010, who later died in 2017.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission