Reading-based Travel Counsellor Marie Rowe – one of TTG’s Sustainable Travel Ambassadors 2023 cohort – said she would “sacrifice” bookings if an operator is “not aligned" with her own moral stance.
Rowe told TTG in November animal welfare campaigners like herself were "not going to shut up" about the issue and would continue to put pressure on operators who sold tickets to venues which feature cetaceans.
On Tuesday (26 March), Jet2holidays announced it would stop selling tickets to venues featuring cetaceans like orcas, whales and dolphins – days after easyJet holidays said it would no longer promote zoos and marine parks under its new animal welfare policy.
Their respective stances now set Jet2 and easyJet holidays apart from Tui, which continues to sell such attractions. A snap poll of TTG readers on Wednesday (27 March) asking whether Tui should stop selling marine parks came down 80% in favour.
Speaking to TTG from Uzbekistan where she is currently on a Jules Verne tour, Rowe hailed Jet2’s decision: “It’s absolutely fantastic news, especially the timing so soon after easyJet holidays’ decision.
“I’ve never sold Jet2holidays before, but now I will look to sell them. Jet2 flies from regional airports that makes travel accessible for some of my client base.”
She added: “The fact that Jet2holidays offered marine parks caused me a problem as I wanted to be able to sell them but this held me back.
“Where I’m based, I sell a lot of airlines – like British Airways – that offer long-haul. Now I can sell more affordable options that fly in and around Europe.”
Rowe said it would be “amazing” if Tui would follow easyJet holidays and Jet2holidays. “Sometimes it’s good to be different and set yourself apart from your competitors, but not when you’re selling animal cruelty.
“The whole agent community is going to see that Tui’s biggest competitors have done it. It’s no brainer. I reckon Tui will stop selling [marine parks] by the end of the year.”
Tui managing director UK and Ireland, Andrew Flintham, told delegates at last week’s TTG Agenda 2024 spring breakfast the operator would continue to allow customers to choose between products.
"We’ve taken that position – and it’s an easy position to have a go at because you’re not taking the moral position, but the moral position is the only position that is that person’s view," he said.
Rowe stressed she believed Jet2holidays and easyJet holidays would now firmly be agents’ preferred operators following their recent policy changes.
