Credit: Maryanne Ventrice https://www.flickr.com/photos/maryanne67/1460513218/
We hope this guide will become a leading resource for travellers concerned about the ethics of visiting elephant sanctuaries and taking part in elephant rides around the world.
Brighton (PRWEB UK) 4 August 2014
In response to the growing scrutiny around elephant welfare in the tourism industry, leading ethical online travel agent responsibletravel.com has today released a one-of-a-kind guide: Elephants in tourism – right or wrong? (http://www.responsibletravel.com/holidays/elephant-conservation/travel-guide).
The result of a long consultation process with NGOs, responsibletravel.com member tour operators and local experts, the guide presents a collective record of global thinking and offers independent, objective views of the facts.
Justin Francis, Managing Director at responsibletravel.com explains how the guide has led to changes in the company’s holiday collection:
“We hope this guide will become a leading resource for travellers concerned about the ethics of visiting elephant sanctuaries and taking part in elephant rides around the world.
“For us, it has resulted in the decision to no longer promote elephant riding trips on responsibletravel.com, or any trip which includes the opportunity to see trained elephants perform for the public.
“We believe endangered elephants will continue to be taken from the wild as long as tourist demand for such activities remains in place, and chains and unethical training methods will continue to be used to control the elephants around tourists.
“I very much hope to see a gradual process of change in the way we as travellers approach elephant-related tourism.”
Elephant treks will be promoted by responsibletravel.com in exceptional cases where there is a wider conservational benefit to other endangered species such as rhinos and tigers.
For travellers considering a holiday itinerary involving elephants, the guide includes:
- Alternatives to viewing captive elephants, plus an interactive map of where to see elephants in the wild
- ‘Photos we hate’ – a gallery of shocking elephants photos
- The differences between an elephant park, camp, sanctuary and orphanage
- The history of captive elephants in Asia
- Facts on African and Asian elephants
- How elephants can be vital for conservation of other endangered species
- Opinions on whether it is possible to move forward into a future without elephant trekking/performing
Find out more at: http://www.responsibletravel.com/holidays/elephant-conservation/travel-guide/.
A range of high resolution images can be supplied with this release.
Notes to editors:
About responsibletravel.com
responsibletravel.com is the world's leading online travel agent for responsible holidays and a pioneer of responsible tourism. Started in 2001 with backing from Dame Anita Roddick of The Body Shop the site's mantra is 'travel like a local'. It sells holidays that are about more than just a brief stay somewhere - instead it is travel that offers a real connection with the people, the landscape, the culture, the food and the environment. It offers over 7,500 responsible holidays from over 3,000 holiday providers which all support communities and conservation. Handpicked local specialists provide authentic holidays for those seeking adventure, culture, or luxury whether travelling with family, joining a small group or looking for tailor-made experiences worldwide, in destinations as diverse as Scotland - http://www.responsibletravel.com/holidays/scotland, Japan - http://www.responsibletravel.com/holidays/japan and Kerala - http://www.responsibletravel.com/holidays/kerala.
In addition, responsibletravel.com:
- founded and organises The World Responsible Tourism Awards, celebrating 11 years at World Travel Market this year.
- campaigns for positive change in the travel and tourism industry.
CEO Justin Francis has been included in Courvoisiers The Future 500, Thames and Hudsons 60 Innovators Shaping Our Creative Future and taken his place on the Advisory Board of The International Centre for Responsible Tourism at Manchester Metropolitan University.
The company is based in Brighton's North Laine district, England.
Contact:
Sarah Bareham
pres (at) responsibletravel (dot) com
01273 829 269 (UK)