Wildlife Tourism vs Animal Tourism - What's the Difference?

There’s so much anger behind the simple phrase. Don’t believe me? Type it into the Google search bar or Instagram and see what pops up in the suggested searches.

animal tourism is cruel
animal tourism ethics
animal tourism in Thailand, the Philippines, or other destinations with rampant animal abuse in tourism

Compare that to searches for “wildlife tourism”.

Wildlife tourism Africa
Wildlife tourism in National Geographic
Wildlife tourism guide

Wildly different responses, right?

However, “animal tourism” is treated as a hot word for cruelty. So, what is the actual difference between it and wildlife tourism?

Animal Tourism and Wildlife Tourism Definitions

Put simply, animal tourism is just that: animals being used in tourism, typically as the main draw to a specific location or place of business. Sure, this can include the inhumane treatment of elephants in riding camps or dancing Sun Bears. However, this can also include bird watching, hiking, and visiting nature preserves. Meanwhile, the UN World Tourism Organization defines wildlife tourism as:

…the observation and interaction with local animal and plant life in their natural habitats.

This sounds pretty similar to those positive examples of animal tourism.

What’s the Difference?

Put simply, wildlife tourism is a type of animal tourism. Think of animal tourism like a big umbrella; maybe one with a few holes so the umbrella only works on one side

These holes let in the rain and damage that side, representing the flaws in animal tourism as a whole. However, we should not disregard the positive, working parts including what most define as “wildlife tourism”.

It’s all Semantics

In all honesty, it’s all semantics. Just like the words “traveler” and “tourist” cause many of us to have different feelings associated with the words, they essentially mean the same thing. Instead of blanketing all tourism involving animals as bad, try to remember the beneficial and positive ways that travelers and tourist dollars can impact our wildlife!

To learn more about this important topic, check out my podcast episode below, or wherever you prefer to stream your podcasts!