Why we stand for animal welfare—and how we’re putting it into action.
At Vacaay, we’ve always believed in the power of travel to change lives—but that change should never come at the expense of animal welfare. As a platform that inspires tourists to explore the world, we recognise the responsibility that comes with our influence. That’s why we’re committed to promoting tourism experiences that are not only memorable, but also mindful.
Tourism should never come at the cost of animal cruelty
Unfortunately, not all travel experiences are created equal. Across the globe, animals are exploited in the name of tourism—forced to perform, kept in unnatural conditions, or subjected to pain and fear for the sake of entertainment. These practices often go unnoticed by well-meaning travellers who simply don’t realise what goes on behind the scenes.
We believe education is the first step toward change. That’s why we’ve made it our mission to raise awareness about unethical wildlife tourism—and to actively steer travellers toward experiences that support conservation, rehabilitation, and the ethical treatment of animals.
Building our approach on the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare
To guide our decisions, we’ve adopted the globally recognised Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare—covering nutrition, environment, health, behaviour, and mental wellbeing. This framework underpins every wildlife-related listing on our platform and helps us evaluate which experiences meet our ethical standards and which don’t.
Drawing the line on what we will—and won’t—promote
Our commitment goes beyond words. We’ve taken a firm stance against activities involving animal cruelty, including things like elephant rides, big cat photo ops, dolphin shows, and captive animal performances. These experiences will never be featured on Vacaay.
We also scrutinise other activities that might appear harmless on the surface—such as camel rides or visits to zoos—assessing them carefully on a case-by-case basis to ensure they align with our values and animal welfare policy.
Supporting the right kind of wildlife encounters
We believe the most meaningful animal encounters happen in the wild—not behind bars or on stages. That’s why we proudly support safaris, conservation-focused sanctuaries, and rehabilitation centres that meet the highest standards of care. These organisations are often working tirelessly to rescue injured or orphaned animals, restore habitats, and protect endangered species—and we’re honoured to play a small role in supporting their work.
A shared responsibility
We know that real change requires a collective effort. That’s why we’ve aligned ourselves with partners like World Animal Protection to ensure our approach remains informed, consistent, and credible. But just as importantly, we invite our users to be part of the movement—by choosing ethical wildlife experiences, speaking out against cruelty, and helping us hold the industry to a higher standard.
If you see a listing on our platform that doesn’t align with these values, we want to hear from you. Email animalwelfare@vacaay.com and our team will investigate.
Because at the end of the day, travel should create lasting memories—not lasting harm.
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