Open letter to TUI from independent travel agents

One of the world's largest travel companies, TUI Group continue to profit by selling tickets to approximately 25 dolphin venues holding captive 400 dolphins. But it doesn’t have to be this way….

As a travel professional your voice is what captive dolphins need most. We’ve already gathered voices from TUI staff who want this to end, we’ve collected 100,000 signatures from UK holidaymakers, what we need now is the voices of travel agents and the trade.  Working with Kiwano Tourism, we’ve already got 300 independent travel agents signed up to our letter – can you help us get to 500?

TUI Group are pivoting their strategy towards empowering more travel agents to sell more of their products, which makes this the perfect time to take action. We may not have this timely opportunity again. 

By signing this open letter, you will be….

  • Using your power as an independent travel agent
  • Encouraging a major travel brand to do the right thing
  • Helping to make this the last generation of dolphins in captivity

We can end dolphin exploitation now. Let’s make this the last generation of dolphins to suffer in captivity.

Together we can stop travel giants like TUI Group profiting from captive dolphins.

World Animal Protection and Kiwano company logos

Stop selling tickets to cruel dolphin entertainment venues. End the suffering.

Dear TUI, 

TUI Group’s website says that ‘at TUI, we create unforgettable moments for customers across the world and make their dreams come true.’  

As owners of independent travel agencies, we share this vision and want to give our clients the very best holidays, but never at the expense of wild animals.  

We are writing to the TUI Group because you choose to continue to profit from cruel dolphin attractions across 25 venues, such as SeaWorld, Aqualand and Loro Parque. 

This is despite companies like Expedia Group, booking.com, Virgin Holidays, Tripadvisor and Klook all stopping selling captive dolphin entertainment. 

These ‘once in a lifetime’ experiences that you are advertising at dolphin parks mean a lifetime of suffering for dolphins.  

These highly intelligent animals spend their days trapped in tiny tanks around 200,000 times smaller than their home range in the wild, performing circus tricks for tourists in return for food - dead, frozen fish. They are subjected to loud noises and repetitive interaction with throngs of tourists, day in day out for the rest of their lives.   

This is an industry built on suffering. It’s no way for a wild animal to live. The travel industry has a critical role to play in removing the economic incentive and social licence that they currently create for venues to breed and trade more dolphins for profit. 

Now is your chance to do something amazing and use your huge public brand for good. As such a huge household name you really hold the key to ending dolphin entertainment and making this the last generation to suffer in captivity. 

We urgently request that you reconsider your policy on dolphin attractions.

Yours sincerely,  

Sorrel Ashton, Travel Counsellors
Kate Bailey, Travel Counsellors
Jessica Aspin, Travel Counsellors
Agnese Mosconi, Momo Travels
Catherine Summers, Travel Counsellors
Amandip Sandhar, Sandhar Travel
Julie Breckon, Earthwise Travel (part of Explorer Travel/Hays Travel)
Mikaela Mills, Exodus Adventure Travels
Janet Taylor, Taylor Made Travel
Gilllian Farr, Farr & Away Lrd T/A Not Just Travel - Gillian Farr
Kristen Diederich, Compassionate Travels
Jenifer Compton, Not Just Travel
Emma Andrews, The Holiday Village
Kate Marshall, The Holiday Village
Liz Engel, Travel Counsellors
Rebecca Woolford, Kiwano Travel
Marie Rowe, Marie Rowe Travel
Annika Nickson, Nickson Travel
Jayne Lomax, Travel Counsellors
Anna Ironmonger, Not Just Travel
Katie Welch, Not Just Travel
Ruth Franklin, Secret Paradise Maldives
Sally Murray, Travel Counsellors
Yvonne Barker, Great Adventures Await
Karen Slater, Inspire Me Travel
Rachel Tredwell, Tredwell Travel
Johanna Wood, Spear Travels Skipton
Karen Pocock, Designer Travel
Gill Robinson, Speartravels
Gretchen Kibbler, Travel Counsellors
Madeleine Corley, Travel Counsellors
Ellie Adamo, Purpose Travel
Lisa Russell, Wanderluxe By Lisa
Joanne Grogan, Travel Counsellors
Heidi Kemsley, Travel Counsellors
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Katie May, Travel Counsellors
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Greg Gillies, Greg Gillies Photography,
Jaynbe MacDonald, Travel Club Elite
Annemarie Shipman, Travel Counsellors
Sam Peters, Travel Counsellors
Jill Doherty, Travel-pa
Kate Bailey, Travel Counsellors
Kat Malyshenko, Travel Cunsellors
Laura Hood, Travel Counsellors
Carrie Colliss, Travel PA
Laura Sigsworth, Travel Counsellors
Penny Blay, Travel-PA
Heidi Kemsley, Travel Counsellors
Amanda Murphy, Travel PA
Clare Horton, Travel PA
Dany Konsein, Travel PA
Donna Gregson, Travel PA
Alison Mcginn, Lanson Travel
R Morales, The Ultimate Travel Company
Joanne Harris, Travel Counsellors
Tanya Carter, Travel Counsellors
Elaine Rogers, Travel PA
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Tom Kilby, Not Just Travel
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Gary Holmes, Not Just Travel
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Pam Jones, Not Just Travel
Rachel Varndall, Travel Counsellors
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Alex Harding, Not Just Travel
Paula Warden, Not Just Travel
Janet Lacey, Not Just Travel
Erika Williams, Not Just Travel
Peter Colvin, Not Just Travel
Keeley Brown, Not Just Travel
Cliff Sherriff, Hays Travel
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Phil Ashcroft, Ulendo Travel
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Nicole Kelly, Weald Travel
Claire Masse, Frangipani holidays
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Aaron Slade, Not just travel
Carla Dakin, Not Just Travel
Julie Macdonald, Not Just Travel
Maureen Mckenna, Not just travel
Jasvinder Birring, Not Just Travel
Michelle Davison, Your Holiday Booking
Andrew Walker, Not Just Travel
Gayle Anderson-Vismeg, Not Just Travel
Nicola Donaldson, Travel Counsellors
Samuel Ballard, Club Voyages
Theresa Kelly, Not Just Travel Wanderlust
Nicola Blake, PA TRAVEL
Lewis Jones Lewis Jones, Not Just Travel
Alison Cooper, Not Just Travel
Simon Naz, Not Just Travel
Lesley Morgan, The Robertson Travel
Kim Wallis, Kimbotravel
Judy Mason, The Travel Lady
Nong Skett, Not just Travel
Mark Skedd, NJT
Raakhee Morrison, RZ Travels Ltd
Kirsty Stewart, KS Travel Services
Kirsty McNiece, Not Just Travel
Paula Hansen, World Access Travel Ltd
Jane Middleton, Authentic Travel Company
Emma Diamond, Travel Counsellors
Deborah Gannon, Explorer Travel Site
Sarah Heduan, Not just travel
Lyn Cooper, Luxury Holidays and Honeymoon
Lynsey Bradford, Travel counsellors
Lisette Julio-quinn, Not Just Travel
Amanda Blanthorn, Your World Travel
Bobbie Staden, Marlborough Travel
Sabina Clay, Not Just Travel
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Tim Cooper, Not Just Travel
Kellie McCallum, Not Just Travel
Marie Gardner, Not Just Travel
Geraldine Morelli, Explorer Travel
Britt-Marie Monks, The Holiday Fixer
Laura Fisher, Holiday Fixer
Natalie Pitman, Sun Sea and Luxury Travel
Michelle Lacey, The Holiday Fixer
Briony Horkan, Holiday with Harte
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Kevin Horkan, Holiday with Harte
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Carl Ricketts, Not Just Travel
Syed Jamil, Traveleap Global LTD
Jane Sedgwick, Jane Sedgwick Travel Counsellor
Gill Nicholls, Travel Counsellors
Marietta Maidman, Travel Better with Marietta
Liam Caffrey, Perfect Getaways
Nicola Palmer, Perfect Getaways
Emma Quinn, Perfect getaways
David Palmer, Perfect Getaways
Sarah Southall, Perfect getaways
Andy Holbrook, AH Escapes (part of Explorer travel)
Steph Cordon, Perfect getaways
Jenny Stone, Travel-PA
Gemma Drury-Hill, Perfect Getaways
Louise Trowbridge, Not just travel - Your Holiday
Jack Palmer, Perfect Getaways
Daniella Clarke, Perfect getaways
Michael McIver, Perfect getaways
Luke Fitzpatrick, Perfect getaways
Sarah Cohen, Suntrek Holidays
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Kerry Lakey, Savannah Travel
Scarlett Kneen, Perfect getaways Isle of Man
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Danielle Luck, Perfect getaways
Gill Mccarthy, Travel Counsellors
Alison Watson, Perfect getaways
Joanne Parsons, Travel Counsellors
Jane Walsh, Free Spirit Holiday
Sharon McBride, GTouring
Jenny Hendron, The Personal Travel Agents
Julie-Anne, Craig Not Just Travel
Gilly Bachelor, Not Just Travel
Laura Murphy, Not Just Travel
Sarah Laverty, Not Just Travel
Ginny Scott, Travel Counsellors
Robert Kiernan, Travel Counsellors
Isobel McCardie, Rock My World Travel
Donna Cody, Not Just Travel
Mark McCardie, Rock My World Travel
James Dyson, Not Just Travel
Catherine Bracegirdle, CB Travel
Naomi Stonier, Naomi Stonier Marriage Coaching
Angela Kingett, Travel Counsellors
Laura Robertson, Kuoni
Linda Buckingham, Travel Counsellors
Nargis Robertson, Travel Counsellors
Mick Eames, Travel Counsellors
Angela Anderson, Travel Counsellors
Lisa Cashman, Travel Counsellors
Olie Summers, Scott Dunn
Linda Reynolds, Personal Travel Agents
Sarah Bahous, SB Luxury Travel
Rachael Cassar-Egan, Hays Travel PTC
Hash Modha, Retired from Tourism Industry
Clare Collins-Doyle, Independent Travel Experts
Caroline, Kohn Travel Counsellors
Karina Palmer, Karina Palmer - Travel Counsellors
Clare Bennett, Travel Counsellors
Suzanna Pinder, Travel Counsellors
Jonny May, Wild Paths
Zoe King, Travel Counsellors
Katherine Cornell, Travel Counsellors
Iain McConachie, Wilderness
Nicola Seymour Mead, NSM
Orko Hassan, University College Maastricht
Katharine Totoni, Travel Counsellors
Katie Clements, Cornwall Discovered
Jackie Devereux, Shona Travel
Janey Berry, Berry Travel
Gillian Luxon, D&G Travel
Léa Jacquot-Benson, Positively Touristing
Jennifer Clifton, Travel Counsellors
Anja Dedeleit, Dedeleit
Ying Yi Ho, Asilia Africa
Ali Rowley, Tribes Travel
Paula Ross, Travel Counsellors
Mathilde Menusier, Culture Digitale
Jo MacCrimmon, Accent Global
Vicky Smith, Earth Changers
Karen Simmonds, Travel Matters
Sarah Mason, Mason Rose Private Travel
Audrey Lounsbury, The Coconut Traveler
Amanda Fisher, Journeys by Amanda
Silvia Rico, Enigma Peru
Matt Hollings, Travel Matters Ltd.
Nell Hensby, Mercator PR
Becky Harris, Travel Kinship
Marcio Feanco, Outdoor Norway
Romy Frow, Tracel Counsellors
Robin Vanhuysse, Atlas Reizen
Suzie Skipper, Travel Counsellors
Joanne Aldridge, The Holiday Franchise Company
Aaron Hilton, Holiday Franchise Company
Luke Western, The Holiday Franchise Company
Lili Ivanova, Holiday Franchise Company
Jebba NcCullagh, The Holiday Franchise Company
Kim Hood, The Holiday Franchise Company
Siobha¡n Daly, NA
Simon Heyes, Senderos
Eda Ayyildiz, Travel Counsellors
Amanda Barrett, Travel Counsellors
Katharine Childs, Travel Counsellors
Cornel Schalkwyk, Travel Counsellors
Sarah Falconer, Sarah Falconer Ltd
Mark Wright, The Adventure Connection
Hafsa Gaher, Archer & Gaher Adventures
Najeeb Ahmed Khan, Himalayan Holidays
Jordan Luxton, The Holiday Franchise Company
Anne de Jong, Good Tourism Institute
Petra Shepherd, Travel Matters
Matt Hollings, Travel Matters Ltd.
Chris Pensa, Pensa Events
Elkie Nicholas, Trees4Travel
Monika Markowska, Travel Matters
Joseph Ngigi, Cherish Leisure
Rushant Dhanwatay, Palash Villa
Wenzel Weinich, TDP
Elisa Spampinato, Traveller Storyteller
Thomas Armitt, Planeterra Foundation
Caroline Piccaver, Travel Counsellors
Marina Schumacher, Travel Counsellors
Lucie Mellodew, Travel Counsellors
Denise Rawden, Taylor Made Travels
Jo Sumner, Travel Counsellors
Victoria Martinelli, Lemongrass Marketing Ltd
Maddi Howell, Lemongrass
Julie Heinisch, Lemongrass Marketing
Keyna Abaneme, by Keyyna
Raakhee Morrison, RZ Travels
Derek Morrison, RZ Travels
Anja Sterchi, Tourism Adelboden-lenk-kandersteg
Phoebe Barnes, MABEYSKI
Daniel Mcdill-Micklethwaite, ARCA Origins
Kriss Saunders, ARC Divers
Natasha Ingram, Dragoman
Becky Barker, Dragoman
David Cook, Travel Counsellors
Rosanna Moor, Exodus
Liz Penn, Travel Counsellors
Joanne Parsons, Travel Counsellors
Peridot Harrison, Travel counsellors
Jo Fisher, Travel Counsellors
Emma Smith, Travel counsellors
Muriel Bauduin, Travel Counsellors
Suzanne Partridge, Travel Counsellors
Matt Hills, Travel Counsellors
Stephanie Rae, Travel Counsellors
Jo White, Travel Counsellors
Kate Hayes, Travel Counsellors
Sacha Barbato, Travel Counsellors
Jan Palmer, Travel Counsellors
Sarah Coombes, Travel Counsellors
Jo Powell, Travel Counsellors
Sarah Freeman, Travel Counsellors
Simone Glazer, Travel Counsellors
Jo Delaney, Travel Counsellors
Claire Bottone, Claire Bottone Travel Limited
Sue Kelly, Travel Counsellors
Lindsay Garner, Travel Counsellors
Jemima James, The Slow Cyclist
Bonnie Nelson, B-SpokeTravel
Gary Bates, The ITC Travel Group
Stephanie Mas, IUD
Ruth Wills, Travel Counsellors
Adam Patchton, Not Just Travel
Adriana Patchton, Not Just Travel
Emma Knight, Knight Travel
Lisa O'Connell, Independent Travel Experts
Toni Sharp, Designer Travel by Toni Sharp
Tricia Roes, Designer Travel
Antonia Cochrane, Designer Travel
Laura Price, Designer Travel
Esther Ward, Designer Travel
Alex Harding, Not Just Travel
Brydie Peacock, Caribtours
Isabel Amison, Caribtours
Karen Boulton, Caribtours
Mandy Burten, Caribtours
Heidi Phillips Designer, Travel by Heidi Phillips
Saskia Ruttkowski, Tourism with Heart
Sue Ockwell, Travel PR
Julie Welfare, Travel Counsellors
Emma Otter, Travel Counsellors
Eleanor Swan, Travel Counsellors
Gemma Standish Gemma, Standish not just travel
Kate Bailey, Travel Counsellors
Daragh Hanafin, Travel counsellors
Joanne Parsons, Travel Counsellors
Becca George, Travel With Becca
Nicola Szymanowksi, Blue Bay Travel
Raimonda Douglass, Air Transat
Amy Pettigrew, Travel Counsellors
Lindsey Lancelotte, Luxe Travel Lounge
Gill McCarthy, Travel Counsellors
Gillian Farr, Not Just Travel
Liz Clarke, The Travel Directors
Helene Kirkham, Travel Counsellors
Alex Jordan, Getaways by Alec
Hannah Ramrachia, Travel Counsellors
Stacey McCourt, Travel Counsellors
Fiona Dinnis, Travel Counsellors
Lydia Maude, Travel Counsellors
Alison Hawkesworth, Inteletravel
Lauren Brown, Travel Counsellors
Nicola Donaldson, Travel Counsellors
Candy Brown, Travel Counsellors
Danielle Paradise, Travel Counsellors
Mandy Rhodes, Mandy Rhodes Travel Counsellor
Shona Darroch, Travel Counsellors
Diane Breton, Travel Counsellors
Emma Andrews, The Holiday Village
Joanna Cowling, Travel Cousellors
Angela Kingett, Travel Counsellors
Jen Warne Way, To Go Travel
Alex Harding, Not Just Travel
Cassandra Hebbourn, Lappland livsstil
Caroline Linton, Travel Counsellors
Lynsey Cowley, Travel counsellors
Janet Lacey, Not Just Travel
Tanya Cornelius, Hays Travel
Emma Gibson, Travel Counsellors
Katie Holmes, Reve Tourism
Imogen Fernandez, Travel Organisers
Danielle Walker, Cheshire Private Travel
Emma Gibson, Travel Counsellors
Matthew Carter, Travel Counsellors
Sharon Skowronski, Travel Counsellors
Amanda Johnston, Travel Counsellors
Amanda Johnston, Travel Counsellors
Vicki Donaghey, Travel Counsellors
Jessica Morton, Fusion Holidays
Henry Lightfoot, Fusion Holidays
Sophie Baker, Oyster Travel
Sally Murray, Travel Counsellors
Emma Vipond, Travel Counsellors
Emma Butterworth, Adventures By Ltd
Mandy Oldknow, Travel Counsellors
Nicola Palmer, Perfect Getaways
Mia Hutchinson, Perfect Getaways
Sonia Trevorrow, Perfect Getaways
Sarah Murray, Perfect Getaways
Steph Cordon, Perfect Getaways
Dave Palmer, Perfect Getaways
Ceri Bellis, Perfect Getaways
Carla Hodgson, Hays Travel
Harry Hughes, Perfect Getaways
Simon Bollington, Travel Counsellors
Amy Carpenter, Hayes
Michael McIver, Perfect Getaways
Laura Oswald, Perfect Getaways
Sara Williams, Perfect Getaways
Natasha Hall, Travel Counsellors
Nic Foley, Travel Counsellors
Denise McKenzie, Travel Counsellors
Emma Gillon, Travel Counsellors
Zoe Dean, Travel Counsellors
Samantha Price, Travel Counsellors
Hilary Alexander, Travel Counsellors
Katie Bennett, Travel Counsellors
Jessica Cain, Perfect Getaways
Sarah Jennings, Travel Counsellors
Anita Harris, Travel Counsellors
Angela Anderson, Travel Counsellors
Lesley Clements, Fusion Holidays
Anna Farmer, Travel Counsellors
Deborah Robbins, Travel Counsellors
Kate Palframan, TRAVRAIL
Tamara Harris, Travel Counsellors
Tracey Adams-Gill, Travel Counsellors
Jane Sheffield, Travel Counsellors
Angela McDonald, Adventures by AJM
Karen Goldman, Travel Counsellors
Stephen Chalmers, Altogether Travel
Sue Taylor, Fusion Holidays
Kerensa Kassi, Travel Counsellors
Emma Bolton, Travel Counsellors
Sarah Mott, Travel Counsellors
Stephanie Broemel, Travel Counsellors
Leah Mackay, Travel Counsellors
Karen Constable, Stravaigers Travel
Katie Welch, Not Just Travel
Donna Gregson, Travel PA
Hannah Stanton, Travel Counsellors
Joanne Ioannou, Travel Counsellors
Gajanan Joshi, K2 Journeys LLP
Leyla Kent, Not Just Travel
Rosie Tandek, TL
Alison Marden, Travel Counsellors
Harry White, Travel Counsellors
Lisa Davis, Inteletravel
Clare Fraser-Jones, Travel Counsellors
Karen Hughes, Hays Travel
Layla Crocker, Travel Innovation Group
Lauren Woods, Travel Counsellors
Adam Burgess, Travel Counsellors
Ben Burgess, Travel Counsellors
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Johanna Wood, Spear Travels Skipton
Hilary Harrison, Malvern World Travel
Ben Langsdale, Travel Without Limits
Natalie Robinson, Travel Made Personal
Jenny Jackson, Luxury Travel Gurus
Joanne Brace, Travel Counsellors
Becky Rickett, All About Travel
Louise Groves, Go Cruise & Travel
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Katie Harber, AE Expeditions
Dorothy Howson, Hallmark Travel
Catherine Dorsett, Colchester Travel
Vanessa Pindoria, Hays Travel
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Ruth Ashton, All About Travel
Marina Schumacher Ward, Travel Counsellors
Cathryn Sanders, Over the Moon Escapes
Maxine Bury, Travel Counsellors
Sarah Coombes, Travel Counsellors
Kate Legate, Travel Counsellors
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Charley Robinson, Travel Counsellors
Marika Riddick, Travel Counsellors
Michelle Murray, Travel Counsellors
Jo Harris, Travel Counsellors
Abi Prescott, Travel Counsellors
Romy Frow, Travel Counsellors
Deb Harding, Travel Counsellors
Julie Caro, Travel Counsellors
Ellie Houghton, Perfect Getaways
Suzanne Young, Perfect Getaways
Sarah Guy, Perfect Getaways
Mia Hutchinson, Perfect Getaways
Sarah Southall, Perfect Getaways
Leanne Carr, Perfect Getaways
Michelle Wilson, Travel Counsellors
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Lisa Connolly, Travel Counsellors
Gillian Clarke, Travel Counsellors
Jo Mooney, Stunning Escapes
Katherine England, Katherine England-Travel Counsellors
Gemma Drury-Hill, Perfect Getaways
Julie Breckon, Earthwise Travel
Samantha Hazelgrove, Travel Counsellors
Alison Watson, Perfect Getaways
Nicky Fewtrell, Perfect Getaways
Sarah Mortimer, Fusion Holidays
Tray-Ann Rowe, Inteletravel
Nargis Robertson, Travel Counsellors
Rhiann Hill, HTR
Raakhee Morrison, Not Just Travel
Laura Winnery, Olive Lounge Travel Bingley
Alan Mead, Alan Mead Coach
Julie Dickin, PLM
Fiona McBride, Fushia Design
Helen Terry, Carnival UK
Peter Colvin, Not Just Travel
Lucy Taylor-Brees, Taylor-Made Escapes
Elise Williams, Global Travel Worldwide
Kerry Hawkins, Wishlist Escapes
Dawn Bailey, Travel Counsellors
Colin Matthews, Travel Club Elite
Anna Ironmonger, Not Just Travel