To be disappointed with TUI - dolphins

[BlowDryRat]

We've booked a holiday with TUI and I was browsing the available excursions for ideas. I'm amazed to see that they're still offering multiple "experiences" with captive dolphins. Feed the dolphins, play with the dolphins, swim with the dolphins... I had a quick look at one of these places on TripAdvisor and there are reviews saying that the "experience" was of tourists hanging onto the dolphins' dorsal fin to be dragged along behind them.

I thought this sort of animal cruelty was widely frowned upon. AIBU to be disappointed that TUI are still offering this sort of thing?

Wait till they introduce "TUI Mermaids".................

I thought TUI had withdrawn from those trips only recently very disappointing to hear that might not be the case.
These places are disgusting and shouldn't be allowed

I thought I'd heard that too, but a quick Google didn't find anything. I did find a petition to ask them to stop promoting these excursions though, so have signed that.

🤷🏼‍♀️ they also still actively encourage visiting Seaworld when you book a holiday to Florida, as dsis and I discovered last year. I tried to be very casual while explaining that we didn't have any interest in adding profit to a company who breeds behaviourally dangerous animals and campaigned to keep their "trainers" in the water with them for performances.

I raised this with our TUI rep in holiday in Tunisia 9 years ago, and wrote to their HQ twice when we got back. The rep told me that “no one has ever complained about this before” and HQ told me that they were just giving the punters what they wanted.
I haven’t booked with TUI since. I’m in complete agreement with you OP, in this day and age there is zero excuse to be promoting or even tolerating these fucking horrible “experiences”. It’s blatant animal abuse. I’m surprised they’re not offering bullfighting or bear baiting trips while they’re at it.