Sustainability
Animal welfare
TUI cares deeply about animal welfare – whether in nature conservation projects we support or in tourism activities involving animals.
Changing the industry from within
We offer a wide range of animal-related experiences, from wildlife viewing tours, horse riding to tickets to zoos and dolphinaria. Animal-related activities are very popular with many of our customers and bring significant socio-economic benefits to the destinations, particularly in developing countries. They also play a crucial role in environmental education and some of them contribute to species conservation and scientific research. We are committed to ensuring that animals in these experiences are treated respectfully and within the highest welfare standards.
By selling tickets, we have an influence on the organisers of activities involving animals. We use this collaboration to advocate for improved welfare standards, better living conditions of the animals, and responsible practices that benefit both animals and local communities.
Our animal welfare audits
The practices we have banned include, for example, elephant riding, any interaction with elephants without a barrier, and contact between tourists and great apes, crocodiles, sloths, bears and wild cats.
To date, over 800 animal welfare audits have been conducted worldwide by external auditors. These are repeated every five years to ensure the quality and continuity of the standards. If suppliers fail to meet our standards, we collaborate to implement the necessary changes. If the non-conformities persist, we stop ticket sales for the activity in question. In this way, we encourage venues to implement higher animal welfare standards.
Our commitment to animal welfare goes beyond the audit process. We are currently providing specialized trainings for our colleagues in destinations, support the end of capture of wild animals for all types of shows or entertainment, and work with NGOs that provide essential veterinary care for animals in need across various destinations.
Cetaceans in human care
Unlike for other species, there are currently no updated ABTA Guidelines specific to cetaceans. To address this gap, TUI has recently updated its audit process for facilities housing these animals. Recognising the welfare challenges faced by cetaceans under human care, our focus is on improving their welfare in the environments where they are currently housed. We have worked with leading independent experts on Animal Welfare, to develop new and stricter criteria for cetacean welfare under human care. These criteria are grounded on the latest scientific articles, the standards of the Marine Mammal Association (EAAM), the accreditations of zoos worldwide (EAZA, ZAA, WAZA) and the renowned Five-Domain Model which evaluates welfare based on nutrition, health, environment, behaviour and mental state.
Cetacean audit process
Our audits are designed to set a new benchmark for cetacean welfare in the tourism industry. They prohibit, among other things, breeding for commercial purposes, the use of drugs for behavioral modifications, the capture of cetaceans in the wild, and the use of food deprivation techniques. Instead, we focus on encouraging facilities to adopt practices that prioritize the physical and mental well-being of the animals.
As part of the audit, each facility is assessed with an operational part and the advanced welfare audit, a peer-reviewed, animal-based evaluation system. This methodology has been practically validated over the past decade, having been applied to hundreds of animals in 11 facilities worldwide. As a result each facility receives an animal welfare score, providing a transparent reflection of the conditions in which the animals are housed and cared for.
The audit process consists of two parts, which are carried out simultaneously during the visit, each with different objectives:
- Operational audit: The purpose of this is to collect information on the resources and management practices at the cetacean facility.
- Advanced Welfare Audit: It includes 47 welfare measures that focus more on the animal itself, i.e. its behaviour, health and mental state. These types of measures are more accurate in terms of animal welfare.
This animal welfare score is not only a measure of compliance but also a tool for driving continuous improvement. Facilities that fail to meet the required standards or demonstrate significant progress are removed from our offerings. Each partner facility will be regularly reviewed, and our aim is to improve the animal welfare score with each subsequent audit.
Our updated audits, launched in summer 2024 and and are aimed at encouraging higher standards across the industry. This ongoing process will continue to be implemented until all our partners have been audited.
Statement against illegal wildlife trade
Illegal wildlife trade, including poaching and wildlife crime, poses a major threat to global biodiversity. It endangers countless species, disrupts ecosystems and poses serious risks to the safety and health of communities in the affected regions. TUI Group signed the Travel and Tourism Declaration on Illegal Trade in Wildlife of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) in 2018, recognizing the positive role our industry can play in tackling this issue on the ground.
To further support these efforts, TUI has published an online souvenir guide in collaboration with the Global Nature Fund, an international foundation for nature and the environment. This guide provides travelers with practical tips on how to buy souvenirs responsibly helping to protect biodiversity in destinations and prevent the exploitation of endangered species. By raising awareness among holidaymakers, we aim to ensure that tourism contributes positively to conservation and local livelihoods.
