The UK Animals (LowWelfare) Act

Chapter 10 investigates how origin-based legislation may enhance elephant welfare in elephant tourism venues (ETVs) at destinations overseas. The traditional positive influencers particularly marketing, tourism journalism, nature and cultural TV programmes, previous experiences and recommendations from friends are still active in encouraging elephant tourism. But a new constraint has been added by the Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023. This has the effect of ending the right of UK-based tourism companies to advertise activities which might harm animal welfare in overseas destinations. The chapter also presents verbatim extracts from Hansard, the official record of debates in the UK Parliament in which members discuss their constituents' views of this new law. The editors of Elephant Welfare in Global Tourism wish to acknowledge Duncan McNair's leading role in devising and pioneering the Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act into law, and for his assistance in discussion about the problems for elephants in tourism. Duncan McNair is CEO of Save The Asian Elephants.