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STA Travel finally halts sale of trips to SeaWorld after double U-turn STA Travel reinstates SeaWorld ban
(about 1 hour later)
STA Travel has completed an double U-turn on its pledge to stop selling trips to SeaWorld marine parks implementing a ban it first announced last week and then withdrew. STA Travel has completed an embarrassing double U-turn on its pledge to stop selling trips to SeaWorld marine parks, implementing a ban it first announced last week and then withdrew.
On Wednesday the youth travel company blamed "internal confusion" for mistakenly announcing the ban last week, part of company-wide attempts to ensure its products were "of high quality and responsible". The youth travel company on Wednesday blamed "internal confusion" at the company for mistakenly announcing the move last week, part of company-wide moves to ensure its products were "of high quality and responsible". On Thursday, it announced that the ban was back in place.
The initial announcement, reported by the Guardian last week and welcomed by animal welfare campaigners, sparked more than 9,000 Facebook shares and hundreds of tweets. The initial announcement, reported by the Guardian last week and welcomed by animal welfare campaigners, sparked more than 9,000 Facebook shares and hundreds of tweets by Thursday.
However, a later statement said the SeaWorld trips were only under review, although tours including elephant rides and visits to the Tiger Temple in Thailand would no longer be available. However that position was changed in a later statement to say that the SeaWorld trips were only under review, although an end to tours including elephant rides and visits to the Tiger Temple in Thailand remained.
In its latest statement, STA, which organises trips involving 2.5 million students and young people a year, apologised "for any confusion caused regarding our relationship with SeaWorld. We can confirm STA Travel has no direct contract with SeaWorld, and following further review due to the low demand and desire from our customers to experience this product, it is not available for sale in our reservation systems as of 22 May." In its latest statement STA, which organises trips involving 2.5 million students and young people a year, apologised "for any confusion caused regarding our relationship with SeaWorld. We can confirm STA Travel has no direct contract with SeaWorld, and following further review due to the low demand and desire from our customers to experience this product, it is not available for sale in our reservation systems as of 22 May."
The company said it remained committed to selling safe and ethical trips. The company said it remained committed to selling "safe and ethical" trips. SeaWorld said in response to last week's first, retracted, announcement: "Although STA Travel are not contracted directly by SeaWorld, it is disappointing that they have made the decision to stop selling tickets to our parks.
SeaWorld said in response to last week's first, retracted, announcement: "Although STA Travel are not contracted directly by SeaWorld, it is disappointing that they have made the decision to stop selling tickets to our parks. "It is unfortunate that STA Travel did not approach SeaWorld when conducting this evaluation so that we could share with them our high standards of care and the rigorous inspection and accreditation process that assures the health and well-being of our animals."
"It is unfortunate that STA Travel did not approach SeaWorld when conducting this evaluation so that we could share with them our high standards of care and the rigorous inspection and accreditation process that assures the health and wellbeing of our animals."
The statement continued: "Unfortunately, like most zoological institutions, we are sometimes targeted by animal activist groups that are opposed to the display of animals and too often trade in charges that are completely baseless. There is no higher priority for SeaWorld than the safety of our employees and guests and the welfare of our animals."The statement continued: "Unfortunately, like most zoological institutions, we are sometimes targeted by animal activist groups that are opposed to the display of animals and too often trade in charges that are completely baseless. There is no higher priority for SeaWorld than the safety of our employees and guests and the welfare of our animals."