World Animal Protection becomes a guide for Scandinavia's most prominent travel agency

Scandinavia's largest travel company, Spies (Nordic Leisure Travel Group), which also includes Globetrotter, Ving Rejser and Tjaereborg, has agreed on a partnership with World Animal Protection Denmark, which will ensure that animal welfare is at the forefront on all of their 400+ destinations around the globe.

"We are looking forward to the new collaboration with the renowned travel group," says animal scientist, Stephanie Kruuse Klausen, World Animal Protection Denmark: "We are delighted that the travel industry's major player in Scandinavia has now gone all-in, and will make good use of our expertise.

This polar bear is one of thousands of wild animals are kept in cruel conditions in Australian wildlife entertainment venues with the most prominent all being in the state of Queensland

Considerate policies for wildlife tourism

Spies has for several years had a considerate policy in relation to animals and nature at their destinations, but has now, in collaboration with World Animal Protection, developed a comprehensive policy, which generally means that all experiences with wild animals on travel destinations, from now on will have the primary focus on animals in their natural environment and always with animal welfare at the center.

Thus, Spies will not offer excursions to dolphin shows or rides on elephants, and will also place extra emphasis on guiding their travelers so that they are careful not to stumble into the pitfalls that tourists often encounter. Like petting lions and tigers, taking selfies with wildlife, or paying to see dancing monkeys and bears.

"We look forward to our collaboration which is already well underway. We are confident that it will be of great benefit both to our traveling customers, but are also convinced that it will strengthen relations with our local partners ", says Sofie Folden Lund, communications- and press manager at Spies Travels: "We consider our new partnership as an insurance that will guarantee that visitors can safely and responsibly enjoy the animals as they explore the possibilities of our many destinations, and we also see it as a unique opportunity to develop new exciting experiences in the future," says the communications manager from Spies .

The future is ethical tourism

Elephant Valley Project (EVP) in Mondulkiri, Cambodia is a 4000-acre elephant sanctuary and eco-tourism programme

The partnership between the major travel agency and the global animal organisation means that World Animal Protection in the future will be counselling Spies on issues of animals and animal welfare in relation to the travel group's current and future destinations.

"When the Nordic region's largest travel group is part of this collaboration, it will undoubtedly have a positive effect on both animals, humans and nature in the farthest corners of the globe. As we operate on a global scale and are involved in whale heritage sites in Spain, Australia and the USA, bear reserves in Turkey and Romania, and elephant reserves in Thailand, this is an obvious opportunity for us in the long term, to help inspire Spies to develop new experiences with free animals on many destinations around the world. " says Stefanie Kruuse Klausen from World Animal Protection Denmark.

It is extremely important that the major travel providers take the lead and insist on being part of the solution and the change.