My very first trip overseas was to Bangkok, Thailand, when I was eighteen. I thought, this is going to be so fun!
But what I didn’t expect to see was so much inhumane activity, elephant rides, monkey shows, and animals performing tricks. It hit a chord in me that, honestly, scarred me from going back to Asia. I told myself, Nah! I’m not interested in ever travelling back there again.
For years, I prioritised destinations that championed animal welfare and biodiversity. I fell in love with Africa. I’ve been there four times, and I adore how proudly they celebrate their wildlife and natural heritage. Seeing animals thrive in their natural habitat is where the magic really comes from.
Then I had an epiphany… It’s one thing to dig your head in the sand and pretend it’s not happening; it’s another to be the change you want to see.
I started my travel career in 2016 at an agency that supported the “Born Free Foundation”, which sparked my interest in ethical and responsible tourism. I joined Discova last year, and have become aware of the enormous influence the travel industry has over what’s considered acceptable.
As a young traveller, I didn’t know what I didn’t know. So, the more we talk about animal welfare, the more we promote it, champion it, and make it visible, the more lasting change we’ll see.
For me, ethical tourism leadership means not trying to align with everyone else. It’s about having the courage to be independent in what we stand for, not being swayed by what’s popular in the market.
When we looked across our entire portfolio of experiences, we decided to say no to all animal-based interactions that compromise animal welfare. That’s the stance we’re taking, and we’re proud to be at the forefront of it.
I remember when Intrepid Travel banned elephant rides back in 2014; they faced so much backlash. But look at where we are now. A decade later, elephant-riding experiences are fading away, and awareness of animal welfare has grown. That gives me hope.
We’ve already seen complex examples. One of our top-selling tours in Indonesia included luwak coffee, where civet cats are kept in cages and force-fed coffee beans they can’t digest. Tourists enjoy the novelty of trying this unusual brew, but it comes at the cost of cruelty. We’ve gone to that supplier to see if we can remove that component and replace it with something more community or nature-focused, something that uplifts, not harms.
In another case, we stopped promoting an experience that included the ritual sacrifice of a chicken. That wasn’t a statement against the community’s heritage; it simply didn’t align with our values. We’re not telling people to be vegan or vegetarian; we’re saying: let’s not glorify unnecessary harm.
Our approach is about conversation, not condemnation. We want to work with suppliers to find alternatives, not just cut ties. That way, we help sustain their income and redirect tourism toward more ethical, regenerative experiences.
The biggest challenge isn’t always suppliers; it’s the travellers. A first-time visitor often wants to do what everyone else has done: ride the elephant, visit the tiger temple, and take a photo. That’s where education matters most. I want to empower our agents and partners with the confidence to say, “We don’t sell that, and here’s why.” It’s not about shutting people down; it’s about starting a conversation.
Discova is now training our teams, especially our salespeople, to speak passionately and knowledgeably about this policy. We’re building a community of evangelists who can champion this message, even when I’m not in the room.
Elephants are a perfect case study in why these policies matter.
We don’t endorse elephant riding; it forces unnatural behaviours and often involves cruel breaking practices that cause lasting mental and physical harm.
We also don’t support elephant bathing since, in the wild, elephants bathe themselves. Our policy is about observation, not interference, seeing animals where they belong in their natural environment.
However, we do support feeding at rescue sanctuaries, with safety and independence barriers, because this supports rehabilitation, not exploitation.
Tourism defines what’s in demand. Demand defines what survives. If we can redirect attention toward seeing animals thriving in the wild, not performing for us, we can change what travellers value.
I want people to find joy in watching an elephant roam freely, a dolphin leap in open water, or a bird building its nest.
We are not owed interactions with the natural world; we are privileged to witness it, and if we’re lucky, we get to protect it too.
Our Animal Protection Policy is now rolled out across Discova. It won’t be easy, change never is, but the pendulum always swings, and I’d rather Discova be at the forefront of that change, leading it, not trailing behind it.
Ultimately, tourism can play a huge part in defining what’s OK and what’s not. If we can inspire travellers to find the magic in animals living their best lives, and to simply observe and appreciate, then we’ll have done our job.
We hope to drive positive change to champion Mother Nature as she was always intended, in her rawest, fullest form.
Karlie
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