A leading travel website, TripAdvisor, will stop selling tickets to attractions and aquariums that have marine creatures like dolphins and whales. TripAdvisor will not sell tickets for SeaWorld in Florida. A spokesperson said the ban is a continuation of the company's policy of prohibiting the sale of tickets to attractions where tourists come into physical contact with animals. TripAdvisor ended ticket sales to "demeaning animal shows and performances" in 2018. The latest ban applies to attractions that "contribute to the captivity" of dolphins, orcas, porpoises and whales.
TripAdvisor elaborated on its new initiative. It said: "Whales and dolphins do not thrive in limited captive environments, and we hope to see a future where they live as they should - free and in the wild." It added: "We believe the current generation of...dolphins in captivity should be the last, and we look forward to seeing this position adopted more widely throughout the travel industry." SeaWorld said it was disappointed by TripAdvisor's action "that ignores the educational value and conservation" of zoos and aquariums. SeaWorld said it cares for all its animals.