Sustainability
Animal welfare
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 can provide socio-economic benefits to the destinations, particularly in developing countries. They also contribute to environmental education, species conservation and scientific research. We are committed to helping ensure that animals in these experiences are treated respectfully and with high 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 for 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 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 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 high standards for cetacean welfare in the tourism industry. They prohibit, among other things, breeding for commercial purposes*, the use of drugs for behavioural 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 validated in practice 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.
In order to proactively guide venues towards welfare improvements, rather than a pass or fail approach, we have adopted a tiered approach. The Cetacean Welfare Audit revolves around six core values, based on the Five-domain model widely recognised by animal welfare scientists. They cover nutrition, health, environment, behaviour and mental status, and training. Each of these values is translated into 128 measures that are assessed during the audit, forming the basis of the overall animal welfare score.***
- Mission
- Commitment to welfare and conservation of wild cetaceans
- Animal Welfare is a focus of the facility’s mission
- Responsible population management policy
12517measures - Nutrition
- Varied and nutritious diet
- Variable and stimulating food provision techniques
9413measures - Environment
- Adequate space
- Clean, safe and comfortable environment
- Animal agency promoted within environment
- Goal-based and variable enrichment program
191332measures - Health
- Specialized veterinary care
- Preventive healthcare program in place
- No use of behavioural modification drugs
- Minimal evidence of reduced health
22830measures - Behaviour
- Expression of social behaviour
- Expression of normal behavioural repertoire
- Engagement of cognitive skills
9312measures - Training
- Food deprivation techniques are not used
- Animal care staff are skilled and knowledgeable
- Choice to terminate visitor programs
- Limited duration and repetition of visitor programs
- Variable and stimulating training sessions
- Positive Human-Animal interactions
16824measures
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 are aimed at encouraging higher standards across the industry. This ongoing process will continue to be implemented until all our partners have been audited.
Supporting Stray and Working Animals in Our Destinations
In many of our holiday destinations, stray animals are part of everyday life. Their wellbeing matters to local communities, hotel partners, guests and TUI.
To recognise and support this commitment, TUI introduced the TUI Stray & Working Animal Welfare Award. The programme recognises hotels that demonstrate a commitment to animal welfare and promotes the sharing of best practices across our hotel portfolio.
To receive the award, participating hotels must have implemented a range of measures to improve the welfare of stray animals. These include providing access to food and clean water, working with local animal welfare organisations, supporting access to veterinary care and neutering programmes, and appointing a dedicated person on site to coordinate animal welfare efforts.
Together, these measures are intended to help improve the lives of stray animals.
Today, around 40 hotels qualify for the TUI Stray & Working Animal Welfare Award. Through their actions, they are helping create safer and healthier environments for animals while supporting more responsible tourism practices.
To support both hotel teams and guests, practical guidance has also been developed on how to interact with stray animals safely and responsibly. These guidelines promote animal welfare while respecting local circumstances and the needs of local communities.
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, recognising the 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 travellers with practical tips on how to buy souvenirs responsibly, helping them make informed purchasing decisions that help support biodiversity conservation in destinations and help prevent the exploitation of endangered species. In addition, TUI Airline prohibits the transport of hunting trophies in its air cargo operations, regardless of whether their trade is legal or illegal. By raising awareness among holidaymakers and implementing measures within our own operations, we aim to support conservation efforts and local livelihoods.
