Posts Tagged ‘Tour Operators’
Protests force travel convention organisers to drop dolphin entertainment plans
A decision to include captive dolphins as part of the entertainment at a major world convention for travel writers has been dropped following outrage amongst some of the journalist due to attend. Event organisers describe the TBEX convention, being held in Cancun in September, as the world’s largest gathering of travel bloggers, writers, new media…
Read MoreVirgin Releases Its Captivity Stakeholder Meeting Report
Days after we launched our campaign pressuring Richard Branson to stop selling trips to SeaWorld, he called a historic meeting to discuss the issue of captivity and tourism. WDC was asked to attend. In follow-up to that stakeholder meeting which occurred in Miami in early June, Virgin recently posted the report of the meeting detailing…
Read MoreSouthwest Airlines Takes Flight from SeaWorld
In January 1988, Southwest Airlines and SeaWorld of Texas announced their plans for a marketing partnership that would later be extended to all SeaWorld parks and over 25 years of marketing promotions and publicity, including planes painted with the likeness of ‘Shamu.’ Southwest Airlines has been the official airline of SeaWorld until today when Southwest…
Read MoreTravel journalists give dolphin show idea the thumbs down
A decision to include captive dolphins as part of the entertainment at a major world convention for travel writers has caused outrage amongst journalists. According to the event organisers, the TBEX convention being held in Cancun in September is the world’s largest gathering of travel bloggers, writers, new media content creators, and social media travel…
Read MoreBritish Airways responds as petition reaches 100,000
A change.org petition set up by WDC supporter, Kathleen Haase, calling on British Airways to stop selling trips to SeaWorld now has over 100,000 signatures and has prompted the following response from British Airways: In common with many airlines and travel companies in the UK, we offer services intended to make the booking of holiday experiences…
Read MoreIt’s all about the pledge!
WDC welcomed the invitation to participate in Virgin’s recent meeting held in Miami, Florida on June 3-4 of last week, the purpose of which was to provide high quality stakeholder input to a landmark debate on the issue of keeping whales and dolphins in captivity. Pro and anti-captivity representatives were present. Virgin’s destinations supply chains…
Read MoreWe’ve been emailed by Richard Branson!
I am pleased to report that yesterday I received an email from Sir Richard Branson, acknowledging our correspondence, and inviting WDC to be part of Virgin’s engagement process on captive whales and dolphins in tourism and in “gathering the expertise and perspectives [Virgin] will need to clarify [its] future vision”. I responded favourably, of course,…
Read MoreSeaWorld set to expand overseas?
As SeaWorld continues to refute damage to its business as a result of the so-called “Blackfish effect”, President and CEO Jim Atchison has reported international expansion plans. WDC notes this news with some concern. SeaWorld already holds 23 orcas in its North American theme parks and a further 4 to 6 at Loro Parque zoo…
Read MoreVancouver Aquarium’s confusing messages on captivity continue
Despite a $100 million expansion programme that will add new additional swimming space, Vancouver Aquarium’s president, John Nightingale has failed to clarify whether or not the new space will be used to house more beluga whales. Speaking to news reporters Nightingale said that new facilities are “several years” away from completion and that there were…
Read MoreRichard Branson’s pledge on captive whales and dolphins
Following our 10th March letter to Sir Richard Branson and his colleagues at Virgin Holidays, Sir Richard has made a further statement on Virgin’s engagement process on the issue of whale and dolphin captivity. Our detailed letter addressed points raised in Sir Richard’s previous statement on 27th February and also asked for commitment from Virgin Atlantic Cargo…
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