PETA’s Campaign to End TUI’s Support of Orca Abuse
PETA is calling on TUI to stop profiting from animal suffering by ending its ticket sales and promotion of marine parks. Here are our latest campaign updates:
Update (18 May 2026): Activists Wrapped in Chains Visit TUI HQ
Earlier today, a group of animal defenders visited TUI HQ to urge the company to stop selling tickets to marine abusement parks. Activists lay on the floor in chains, while a mother and baby sat side by side – representing the mothers and babies torn apart by these parks. They held up a sign reading, “Orcas Imprisoned for TUI Holidays”. At places like SeaWorld and Loro Parque, orcas and dolphins are bred into a life of confinement.
Update (16 April 2026): ‘Clowns’ Storm TUI Headquarters Over Abusement Park Sales
Earlier today, a troupe of PETA ‘clowns’ entered TUI headquarters, urging the company to drop marine parks. Holding up signs reading “TUI, Stop Clowning Around – Drop Dolphin Shows,” the animal defenders were calling on the travel company to stop selling tickets to abusement parks that confine and exploit marine animals.
Update (15 January 2026): Orca Defenders Blast TUI at Globe Travel Awards Over Marine Park Ticket Sales
Today, TUI’s senior leadership arriving at the Globe Travel Awards were met with a confronting sight: a group of PETA supporters with a giant banner proclaiming, “TUI: Orcas Don’t Belong In Tanks. Drop Marine Parks.” The action is the latest in PETA’s campaign to compel TUI to join every other major travel provider in the UK in ending ticket sales to miserable marine parks, which cram orcas and other dolphins into tiny tanks in the name of entertainment
Update (11 November 2025): Animal Defenders Unfurl Giant Banner Outside TUI Store, Blasting Company for Orca Abuse Ticket Sales
As Manchester Airport is TUI’s main UK transport hub, a group of PETA supporters unfurled a giant banner outside the travel provider’s Market Street store with a message declaring, “TUI: Orcas Don’t Belong In Tanks. Drop Marine Parks.” The action is the latest in PETA’s campaign to compel TUI to stop selling tickets to venues, like SeaWorld, that hold orcas and other dolphins captive in the name of entertainment.
Update (4 November 2025): PETA Crashes World Travel Market, Shaming TUI Executive Over Orca Abuse
This afternoon, a PETA supporter crashed a panel session with Peter Krueger, an executive at TUI – the last major travel provider in the UK to continue promoting and selling tickets to marine parks – shouting, “TUI is profiting from orca abuse and it must stop now!” The action is the latest in PETA’s campaign to compel TUI to sever its ties with marine parks that hold orcas and other dolphins captive in the name of entertainment.
Update (20 October 2025): PETA Supporters Kicked Out of TUI Palma Marathon After Confronting CEO Over Marine Park Sales
Today, at the finish line of the TUI Palma Marathon at the Parc de la Mar, PETA supporters caused a commotion when they confronted TUI CEO Sebastian Ebel, who ran in the marathon. The animal defenders were ejected from the event after approaching the CEO with signs reading, “TUI, Stop Supporting Orca Abuse. Drop Marine Parks!”. This is PETA’s latest action to urge the travel provider – the top sponsor of the marathon – to sever its ties with marine abusement parks that hold orcas and other dolphins captive in the name of entertainment.
Update (16 October 2025): Orca Defenders Hold Banner Outside TUI HQ, Blasting Company’s Marine Park Ticket Sales
Today, TUI’s senior leadership and staff arriving for “Embrace AI Day” at the travel company’s headquarters in Luton were met with an unexpected sight, as a group of PETA supporters greeted attendees with a giant banner declaring, “TUI: Orcas Don’t Belong In Tanks. Drop Marine Parks.” The action is the latest in PETA’s campaign to compel TUI to sever its ties with marine parks that hold orcas and other dolphins captive in the name of entertainment.
Update (7 October 2025): Animal Defenders Disrupt ABTA Travel Convention Over TUI’s Shameful Marine Park Ticket Sales
Earlier today, a PETA supporter stormed the stage at the ABTA Travel Convention, unfurling a sign reading, “TUI: Stop Supporting Orca Abuse. Drop Marine Parks!” as TUI’s Managing Director, Neil Swanson, spoke during a panel discussion. Animal defenders were also outside the venue, calling out TUI’s promotion of SeaWorld and other cruel abusement parks. TUI is the last major travel provider in the UK that still sells tickets to miserable marine parks, where captive orcas are denied any opportunity to dive deep, swim fast, or have any semblance of a natural life.
Update (24 September 2025): Animal Activist Disrupts Travel Awards, Shame TUI Over Marine Park Cruelty
Tonight, at the TTG Travel Industry Awards ceremony, a PETA supporter stormed the stage and unfurled a sign reading, “TUI: Stop Supporting Orca Abuse. Drop Marine Parks!”.
Update (11 September 2025): PETA Confronts TUI MD at ‘Future of Travel’ Conference Over Company’s Marine Park Promotion
Today, at Travel Weekly’s Future of Travel Conference, a PETA supporter confronted TUI’s Managing Director, Neil Swanson, in the foyer with a sign reading “TUI: Drop Marine Parks Now!”. Supporters dressed in dinosaur costumes were also outside the venue calling out TUI’s archaic promotion of SeaWorld and other cruel marine parks.
When will TUI join the 21st century by ending its prehistoric promotion of these shady operations?
Update (21 August 2025): TUI Faces Turbulence at Gatwick Airport Over Marine Park Ticket Sales
There was a ruckus today at Gatwick Airport when PETA supporters dressed in uniforms representing travel companies that have cut ties with marine parks – including easyJet, Jet2 and British Airways – descended on the TUI check-in counter to demand an end to its support of marine parks. The animal defenders urged travellers to choose orca-friendly airlines instead of TUI, the UK’s last remaining major travel provider, selling tickets to SeaWorld and Loro Parque.
It’s shameful that TUI is still selling holiday packages to cruel marine parks, where orcas are denied any semblance of a natural life and forced to spend their days in cramped, chemically treated tanks. We are calling on TUI to follow the lead of every other major travel company in the UK and stop propping up wretched orca prisons.
Update (14 July 2025): Chained ‘Orca’ Rattles Southampton TUI Store Over Marine Park Ticket Sales
Today, to mark World Orca Day (14 July), a PETA supporter dressed as a “tortured orca” was chained to suitcases outside the TUI Holiday Store in Southampton to blast the travel company for still selling tickets to Seaworld and Loro Parque, notoriously cruel marine parks in Orlando, Florida and Tenerife, Spain. TUI is the last remaining major travel provider in the UK selling tickets to marine abusement parks. The travel company has recently resumed flights from Southampton, providing more opportunities for people to explore the world; something imprisoned orcas will never get the chance to do.
Update (29 April 2025): Mother and Baby Kept Captive Outside Cardiff TUI Store
Dressed as “orcas,” a PETA supporter and her baby were confined inside a tiny tank outside the TUI Holiday Store in Cardiff on Tuesday to blast the travel company for selling tickets to Loro Parque, a notorious marine park in Tenerife, Spain, where four orcas have died since 2021. The action comes after the birth of a baby orca in late March at the marine abusement park – and as TUI ramps up the number of flights from Cardiff to Tenerife.
Update (26 March 2025): PETA Hits TUI With Double Dose of Anti-Marine Park Actions at Awards Ceremony and Investor Meeting
PETA’s campaign demanding that TUI drop cruel marine abusement parks like SeaWorld from its itineraries went global yesterday, with dolphin defenders delivering a one-two punch at events in London and Madrid. At the Travel Gossip Awards at The Peninsula London, animal advocates were dressed as dead orcas spilling out of a giant, lit-up trophy and lying beside it on the ground. Meanwhile, at TUI Group’s Capital Markets Day at the Hotel Riu Plaza España in Madrid, dolphin defenders descended outside the hotel, including one dressed as an orca holding a sign that proclaimed, “TUI: Stop Supporting Orca Abuse. Drop Marine Parks!”
Update (13 March 2025): Robert Lindsay Slams TUI for Profiting from Dolphin Abuse: ‘I Wonder How You Sleep at Night’
As Britons start dreaming of their summer travel plans, award-winning actor Robert Lindsay, star of My Family and Sherwood, sent an urgent letter today to TUI UK & Ireland’s new managing director Neil Swanson – who was appointed in October – calling on him to restore the company’s reputation and stop selling tickets to marine parks.
“I wonder how you sleep at night, given TUI’s dubious distinction of being the UK’s last major travel provider to sell tickets to watery prisons that hold marine animals captive.”
– Robert Lindsay
In his letter (available here), Lindsay explains how highly intelligent dolphins and whales suffer at SeaWorld and other marine abusement parks, where they have nothing to do but swim in endless tiny circles and chew on the metal bars of their tanks. He writes that life in a barren concrete tank “is not only desperately boring but deadly, as my friends at PETA tell me more than 40 orcas and over 500 other dolphins and whales have died on SeaWorld’s watch.”
Update (7 February 2025): PETA “Trapped Orca” Ad Slams Travel Operator for Profiting from Animal Abuse
As holidaymakers book their summer getaways, PETA placed a striking billboard near TUI’s Manchester city centre branch, shunning the tour operator for continuing to sell tickets to cruel and exploitative marine parks and reminding Mancunians to never add animal exploitation to their itineraries.
Update (16 January 2025): ‘Dead Orcas’ Crash Globe Travel Awards
Tonight, attendees at the Globe Travel Awards were met with a shocking sight on their way into the event: a giant, lit-up trophy holding a pair of PETA supporters dressed as dead orcas, which names TUI the Cruellest Travel Company of 2025.
While TUI’s execs were sipping champagne and patting each other on the back at the Globe Awards, dolphins and whales were going mad from stress and boredom in tiny tubs at SeaWorld and other marine abusement parks. PETA is calling on TUI to stop profiting from animal suffering by ending its ticket sales and promotion of these cruel facilities.
Update (3 December 2024): PETA Heckles TUI Speaker at ABTA’s Travel Matters Conference
A PETA supporter crashed the annual Travel Matters conference put on by ABTA – formerly known as the Association of British Travel Agents – in Westminster, where they commandeered the stage during TUI’s Head of Public Policy Nathan Stower’s speech and told attendees why TUI must end its support of orca abuse at marine parks. A protestor dressed as a chained orca was outside the venue holding a sign.
Update (19 November 2024): PETA Disrupts Travel Awards
At the British Travel Awards ceremony, a PETA supporter stormed the stage of TUI executives and unfurled a sign reading, “TUI: Stop Supporting Orca Abuse. Drop Marine Parks!”
Update (19 November 2024): Animal Allies Shine Light on TUI Promotion of Orca Prisons
PETA supporters gathered outside the British Travel Awards holding eye-catching illuminated signs that read, “TUI: See the Light! Drop Marine Parks”.
Update (5 November 2024): PETA Heckles TUI’s Chief Strategy Officer at World Travel Market London Event
Today, PETA supporters crashed the annual World Travel Market London event by commandeering the stage during TUI’s Strategy Officer and Chief Executive Officer Holiday Experiences Peter Krueger’s speech. They told attendees that TUI holds the dubious distinction of being the last major travel company to provide a financial lifeline to marine abusement parks.
Watch the video now:
Update (23 September 2024): PETA to Ant and Dec: Stop Being ‘Misery Ambassadors’ for Orca Abuse–Promoting TUI
As autumn gets underway, we’re looking ahead to next year’s summer holiday season by firing off a letter to TV personalities Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly asking them to call time on their positions as “happiness ambassadors” for TUI.
Ant and Dec choose to be entertainers, but highly intelligent dolphins and whales are forced to perform tricks at marine parks, where they’re denied everything that’s natural and important to them. We are calling on Ant and Dec to stop being “misery ambassadors” and drop their partnership with TUI until the company ends its promotion of abusement parks.
Update (22 August 2024): ‘Orcas’ Make a Splash at Bournemouth Store
Four PETA “orcas” wearing chains burst into TUI’s Bournemouth branch, one of the travel provider’s newest UK stores, which has reportedly seen footfall “soar”. Some protesters took over the store windows holding signs imploring, “Help Me!” and “Free Me!”, while others dressed like TUI employees stood outside the store holding a banner that read, “Orca Suffering for Sale Here!”
Update (30 July 2024): PETA Hits TUI With a High-Reaching Message
Today, a PETA activist burst into TUI’s Sheffield branch, one of the company’s “superstores”, with a very special delivery:
The animal defender released a bunch of helium-filled balloons with the message “TUI: Let Marine Parks Go!” See what happened next:
Update (11 July 2024): World Orca Day Protest
Ahead of World Orca Day (14 July), three PETA “orcas” wearing chains burst into TUI’s Manchester branch – the city’s airport is the company’s biggest UK base – and took over the store windows. Two other PETA supporters brandished a banner at the entrance, telling the public that at TUI, orca suffering is for sale.
Update (12 June 2024): ‘Orca’ Trapped in Tank Pleads With TUI
Outside TUI’s Birmingham store – the city’s airport is among the travel provider’s biggest UK bases – an “orca” trapped in a cramped tank pleaded with the company to end its promotion of marine parks. The action illustrated how orcas, who belong in the ocean, suffer in captivity. The demonstration featured a sign reading, “TUI: Orcas Don’t Belong in Tanks. Drop Marine Parks.”
Update (3 April 2024): PETA, RSPCA, and Others Band Together for Orcas
Following Jet2holidays’ decision to cut ties with cruel marine parks, a coalition of the UK’s largest animal protection organisations, including groups that specialise in cetacean welfare, rushed a letter to TUI Managing Director Andrew Flintham calling out the company for still selling tickets to marine abusement parks like SeaWorld that keep orcas and other dolphins captive for entertainment. TUI is the last major travel provider in the UK to support this abusive industry, prioritising profit over animal welfare.
Reportedly, TUI has been conducting an internal review of its animal welfare policy for many months, but it has failed to take decisive action and continues to provide a financial lifeline to facilities that confine cetaceans to cramped tanks for tourists to gawp at. The groups asked Flintham when he expects the review to be complete and urged him to end TUI’s support of cruel orca prisons.
Signees include the RSPCA, World Animal Protection, Born Free Foundation, World Cetacean Alliance, Humane Society International/UK, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, and Marine Connection.
“There is ample scientific evidence showing that captivity is wholly incompatible with the complex needs of orcas and other dolphins. At SeaWorld, one of the venues TUI promotes, at least 44 orcas and dozens of other dolphins have died from severe trauma, intestinal gangrene, chronic cardiovascular failure, and other diseases, all far short of their natural life expectancy.” – PETA and other groups in their letter to TUI
Update (1 April 2024): Morrissey Blasts TUI for Profiting From Marine Park Cruelty
Following his involvement with PETA’s campaign that led Jet2holidays to cut ties with cruel marine parks, long-time PETA supporter, musician, and activist Morrissey sent an urgent letter to TUI Managing Director Andrew Flintham. In it, Morrissey calls on Flintham to follow suit and drop facilities like SeaWorld that keep orcas and other dolphins in captivity from the company’s holiday packages.
“There’s no excuse for promoting – and profiting from – this cruelty. Anyone with a thinking bone in their body – or a drop of compassion – knows that not only does captivity kill the spirit of these imprisoned, intelligent, social beings, it often kills them.” – Morrissey
Marine Parks Are Prisons
Orcas and other dolphins are intelligent animals. When kept in marine parks, they suffer from social, physical, and psychological stress. Intense confinement causes frustration, resulting in abnormal behaviour, and they often break their teeth by gnawing at the sides of their tanks.
In nature, orcas form complex relationships, work cooperatively to find food, and can traverse up to 150 miles of ocean every day. However, those at marine parks are housed in incompatible groups in cramped concrete tanks – which can be 10,000 times smaller than their natural home range.
Kept in concrete prisons for decades and forced to perform demeaning tricks for tourists, the majority of captive orcas die far short of their natural life expectancy.
TUI Is the Last Major Travel Provider to Profit From Dolphin Abuse
After hearing from PETA entities, other travel companies – including Jet2holidays, Expedia, Tripadvisor, Thomas Cook, Virgin Atlantic Holidays, British Airways Holidays, Club Med, Airbnb, and Booking.com – have stopped selling tickets to places that keep orcas and other dolphins in tanks for entertainment. TUI is the last major provider to continue prioritising profit over animal welfare.
Ticket Sales Fuel Cruelty to Animals
Marine parks can only continue confining animals to cramped tanks as long they sell tickets. Don’t give facilities like these a lifeline – visit animal-free attractions instead.
Take Action for Orcas
Urge TUI executives to implement a company policy banning the promotion and sale of tickets to marine parks:
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