Collette has announced a commitment to the responsible care of animals and their welfare by adopting and following ABTA’s Global Welfare Guidance for Animals in Tourism.
Collette says that it is dedicated to ensuring that any animal-related experience on tour be audited against the ABTA guidelines by an independent consultant. This practice will ensure that all tour programs align with the industry-best standards. By May of 2021, Collette says that it will discontinue the inclusion of any and all experiences that don’t meet the guidelines set forth by ABTA.
ABTA’s Global Welfare Guidance for Animals in Tourism comprises six manuals covering specific topics relating to good practice in animal protection and welfare. The manuals are aimed at both travel businesses and suppliers of animal experiences.
The manuals set out unacceptable and discouraged practices, minimum requirements for animal welfare and best practice. ABTA says that the guides bring together existing guidance and are intended for travel providers to issue to their suppliers, for tourist boards and relevant destination authorities as well as animal attractions, and that the guides were developed in consultation with over 200 stakeholders, including animal welfare experts.
ABTA is the UK’s largest travel association, representing travel agents and tour operators that sell £38 billion worth of vacations annually. The organization offers advice and guidance to the traveling public, as well as the travel industry in supporting high service standards, health and safety, and responsible tourism.
Collette offers tours to all seven continents.
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