Vacay Victory! Airbnb Leads Latest Industry Move Away From Animal Rides at Giza After PETA Push

Vacay Victory! Airbnb Leads Latest Industry Move Away From Animal Rides at Giza After PETA Push

 Cairo — After hearing from PETA, vacation rental giant Airbnb and five other travel companies across North America—Black Tomato, Shore Excursions Group, ToursByLocals, Under30Experiences, and World Travel Holdings—have agreed to stop promoting and selling tickets for exploitative animal rides at the pyramids of Giza. In thanks, PETA is sending the companies delicious vegan chocolates.

A camel abused in Giza’s tourism industry. Credit: PETA Asia

PETA Asia’s latest investigation of the historic site documented handlers violently beating exhausted horses and camels, who are used to haul tourists in the blistering sun. Injured and malnourished horses were seen eating from garbage dumps, and the bodies of dead horses were found discarded every day at trash sites outside the pyramids of Giza. Camels considered no longer useful were often hauled to a slaughterhouse, where their throats were slit while they were still conscious. One camel continued to kick for four agonizing minutes after a worker slit the animal’s throat.

“More travel operators than ever are encouraging tourists to enjoy Giza’s stunning views without harming horses and camels,” says PETA Senior Vice President Jason Baker. “PETA celebrates Airbnb and other travel companies for shunning these shameful rides and urges Egyptian authorities to follow suit.”

Horses are herd animals who can feel stressed if forced to live alone and mourn each other’s deaths, while camels are known to greet one another by blowing air on each other’s faces. Airbnb and the other travel companies join dozens of businesses that won’t promote or sell animal rides at the pyramids, including Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group, British Airways Holidays, easyJet holidays, Exodus Adventure Travels, Grand Circle Corporation, Scott Dunn, and TCS World Travel.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment or abuse in any other way”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone.  For more information, please visit PETAAsia.com or follow the group on X, Facebook, or Instagram.

#