Animals and Tourism

Siobhan I. M. Speiran ()
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Siobhan I. M. Speiran: York University, Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change

Chapter 18 in The Economics of Non-Human Animals, 2026, pp 335-363 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract Tourism has long been entangled with colonial infrastructures, shaping travel networks that historically benefited imperial powers while often exploiting local populations and landscapes. This chapter examines the lasting impacts of these global systems as manifested in contemporary wildlife tourism context, in which more-than-human animals (henceforth, ‘animals’) are frequently commodified as attractions, labourers, and souvenirs. Despite the central role of animals in the industry, ethical concerns surrounding their welfare have largely been overlooked. Through an interdisciplinary lens—including postcolonial and posthuman critiques—this chapter interrogates the economic structures that sustain exploitative wildlife tourism practices. It evaluates the industry’s global reach, examines its ecological consequences, and introduces the concept of animal-positive practices. A number of successful case studies from around the world are examined. The chapter concludes by proposing economic policy and regulatory interventions aimed at reducing harmful tourist–animal interactions, and fostering conditions that support animal agency, well-being, and resilient multispecies communities.

Date: 2026
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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-17580-9_18

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