Excluding Elephant Trekking, Horse Carriage, and Animal Shows Since November Last Year
Expanding Animal Interaction Products Such as Feeding Experience in Elephant Sanctuary
Playing in the river during the "A Day with Elephants" program in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Photo by Chiang Mai Elephant Friends
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] Elephant trekking and crocodile shows, which were essential courses in package tours to Thailand and Laos, are expected to become difficult to see in the future.
Hana Tour announced on the 4th that it will abolish all package products that may cause animal abuse controversies during overseas travel.
On this day, Hana Tour stated that they have received numerous complaints from customers who experienced elephant trekking, horse-drawn carriages, and crocodile shows in Thailand and Laos, such as "I felt uncomfortable throughout the trip because it seemed like the animals were being overworked," and "I want a trip that protects animals and preserves nature."
Instead of these programs, Hana Tour added that they plan to replace them with experiences such as feeding and bathing elephants at elephant sanctuaries, and night safari experiences where visitors can meet freely roaming animals by tram.
Accordingly, programs that can be recognized as animal abuse, such as elephant trekking, horse-drawn carriages, poor environment breeding and animal shows, and touching confined animals, are expected to be largely abolished from group package products of travel agencies.
A Hana Tour official said, "Not all animal experiences are problematic, but we will meet customer expectations through products that protect animals and allow interaction with them."
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