Be a Compassionate Traveller

It is normal to feel powerless when confronted with animal cruelty abroad.

Here are some straightforward tips on how to become a compassionate traveller and make a difference to the way animals are treated all over the world.

• Document all details of the incident; take photographs and video if you can.
• First complain to the local police, tourist office, and local animal welfare organisation.
• Then inform the country‘s embassy, tourist office, your local politician, and WSPA when you get home.
• Only visit animal friendly attractions.
• Never pay to have your picture taken with an animal.
• Never buy products made from an endangered species.
• Don’t be tempted to try luxury food items that are produced through cruel practices, such as frog’s legs and foie gras.

For more guidelines and advice, please download Guide to Animal Friendly Travel (PDF 1.5 MB).

Animal-Friendly Tourism

Ethical tourism is a hot topic and the public expects the travel industry to set high standards for its activities.

WSPA is seeking to assist the travel industry in meeting the growing demand of ethical, or ‘animal friendly‘ tourism.

Animal suffering is a by-product of tourism, with animals often exploited for the ‘entertainment‘ of holidaymakers, whether it be through activities such as animal circuses, bullfights or swim-with dolphin-programmes.

Typical complaints from tourists can also include reports of the mistreatment of working animals, the plight of neglected animals and the selling of animal products as souvenirs.

Learn more about WSPA‘s work to promote animal-friendly tourism >>