STA Travel has announced it will boycott a number of animal attractions because of welfare concerns.
Animal charities have welcomed the news that the travel company, which specialises in trips for students and young people, has said it will stop selling tours involving elephant rides and tiger temple visits to tourists.
The company is also reviewing other excursions, including SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida, which has found itself the subject of controversy for keeping whales in captivity, highlighted in last year's documentary film, Blackfish.
"If something isn't up to our standards, we remove it," Kathryn Kirkpatrick, STA Travel's social responsibility program manager, said.
"We are reviewing our entire portfolio of animal-focused tours. This is the beginning of a lengthy process for STA Travel to ensure we are offering the very best possible range of experiences for our customers."
STA Travel in Australia was seeking clarification on how the travel company's boycott of certain animal tours will affect Australian travellers.
