Premier Holidays has become the latest travel company to stop selling tickets to SeaWorld.
The tour operator is encouraging customers to instead book products in its range that provide opportunities to see marine wildlife in the wild.
A Premier Holidays spokeswoman said: “We realise animal welfare is an ongoing issue and we continually review our products, who we work with, and monitor feedback from staff and customers.
More:Virgin Holidays to stop selling SeaWorld tickets
Comment: Criticism of SeaWorld is more philosophical than scientific
“Earlier this year we took the decision to follow the advice of Peta (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and remove from sale any attractions that keep whales and dolphins in captivity.
“There are lots of opportunities throughout our product range to experience seeing animals in the wild, in their natural habitat and that’s what we would encourage our customers to do.”
Premier Holidays had already removed products involving elephants from its portfolio.
British Airways Holidays, Virgin Holidays, STA Travel, Booking.com, and TripAdvisor have all stopped promoting SeaWorld. But Attraction Tickets Direct says opponents of SeaWorld are ‘misguided’.
Peta called on the UK’s biggest tour operator, Tui, to stop selling SeaWorld.
Director of corporate projects, Yvonne Taylor, said: “Premier Holidays has officially rejected marine-mammal prisons like SeaWorld, where sensitive, complex, naturally far-ranging aquatic animals are kept in cramped tanks. No travel provider should profit from cruelty to animals, and Peta urges Tui – which is still giving a financial lifeline to SeaWorld, to follow Premier Holidays’ lead.”
Peta argues that orcas form complex relationships, work cooperatively to find food, and traverse up to 140 miles of ocean every day in the ocean but that those at SeaWorld are housed in “incompatible groups in cramped tanks” and are given drugs to manage stress-induced behaviour.
A SeaWorld spokeswoman said: “Even though Premier Holidays was not a contracted partner with SeaWorld, it is disappointing to see Premier Holidays succumb to pressure from animal activists who mislead and manipulate marine animal science to advance their agendas.
“Animal welfare standards at SeaWorld Parks are amongst the highest in the world. We are accredited and certified by the world’s foremost zoological bodies and received a 100% pass in the independent audit carried out in accordance with the Abta animal welfare guidelines for animals in tourism.”