Commons Sense

House of Commons · Adjournment Debate

Animal Welfare in Overseas Tourism

24 January 2023 · 2 other contributors

Opened by Henry Smith Con Crawley

Agriculture & Rural Affairs

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Henry Smith raised concerns about animal welfare in overseas tourism in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.

Key points

  • MP highlights the importance of raising awareness about animal welfare issues, particularly concerning wild animals exploited for tourism abroad.
  • MP calls for stricter measures against unethical practices such as elephant rides and dolphin shows which cause significant harm to wildlife.
  • Minister acknowledges concerns over animal welfare in overseas tourism and praises efforts by campaigners and MPs, noting work done through legislation like the Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill and Shark Fins Bill.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Henry Smith Con Crawley

The MP highlights the importance of raising awareness about animal welfare issues, particularly concerning wild animals exploited for tourism abroad. He commends UK's high standards but calls for stricter measures against unethical practices such as elephant rides and dolphin shows which cause significant harm to wildlife. Examples include tiger cubs used for selfies and Asian elephants brutalized for commercial profit. The speech emphasises the need for new legislation banning promotion of holidays including animal exploitation, citing support from across Britain. It raises concerns over decline in Asian elephant populations due to captivity and cruelty, with documented cases of severe abuse and human fatalities. The MP supports a Bill to prohibit advertising and sale of low-welfare activities abroad, urging colleagues to endorse it at Second Reading.

Other contributors (2)
  • Angela Richardson Con Guildford

    The hon. Member for Guildford agrees with the need for increased animal welfare protections and supports her Bill aimed at prohibiting sale and advertising of low-welfare activities abroad.

  • Margaret Ferrier SNP Rutherglen and Hamilton West

    The hon. Member highlights the unethical nature of some wildlife entertainment venues, urging tourists to be aware that such activities are often harmful to animals.

Government Response

Rebecca Pow

The Minister acknowledges concerns over animal welfare in overseas tourism and praises efforts by campaigners and MPs. She notes the significant work done through various pieces of legislation, including the recent Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill and Shark Fins Bill. While ABTA provides guidance against low-welfare practices, it lacks legislative force. The Government hopes that increasing awareness will lead to more ethical tourism choices, citing examples like ChangChill in Thailand transitioning to observation-only models as positive shifts. She expresses support for continued efforts to improve animal welfare both domestically and globally.

▸ Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy