As a villa owner, you’re not just providing a place to stay — you’re offering an experience for your guests. Today’s travelers care about more than just luxury. They’re looking for authenticity, sustainability, and ethical practices in the places they visit. One key aspect that’s becoming increasingly important is animal welfare.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through what animal welfare means, why it matters to your guests, and how you can promote it at your villa — all without compromising on the charm or comfort of your property.
What is Animal Welfare?
Animal welfare refers to the well-being of animals and ensuring they live in environments where they are treated with respect and kindness. This includes providing appropriate food, shelter, and freedom to express natural behaviors, without being subjected to cruelty or exploitation. For further information, we have collected guidelines on animal welfare from ABTA and the manual guidebook for cetaceans (dolphins, whales, and porpoises), provided by the World Cetacean Alliance, which can be accessed here.
Why Should You Care About Animal Welfare?
You might be wondering — how does this tie into your villa business? Turns out, in more ways than you think.
- Today’s Travelers Expect It
More and more, travelers are choosing destinations that align with their values. They’re looking for experiences that are ethical and sustainable. If your villa supports animal welfare, you’re attracting guests who care about the environment and the ethical treatment of animals. It’s not just a trend; it’s a movement. - Reputational Risks
In many tourist destinations, animals are often exploited for entertainment, such as animal rides or shows, and unethical animal viewing. These practices can harm animals physically and emotionally. By promoting animal welfare at your villa, you’re not only doing the right thing but also steering your business away from potential controversies. Avoiding exploitation, such as offering tours that involve unethical animal interactions, can prevent reputational risks. - Support Local Communities and Conservation
Choosing ethical activities that focus on conservation and responsible animal interaction helps protect the natural habitats and animals in your area. You can support local wildlife initiatives or partner with eco-friendly tours that promote animal welfare. This isn’t just good for animals; it’s also good for local communities that depend on responsible tourism. - It’s Good for Business
Ethical practices, including animal welfare, can become a unique selling point for your business. When you create a space where animals are treated humanely, you also create a community of conscious, loyal guests who believe in supporting companies that care about the planet.
What Activities Should You Avoid?
At Villa Finder, we do not recommend promoting or supporting the following activities:
- Elephant riding or washing, these often involves cruel training methods.
- Zoos and animal shows where animals are kept in small enclosures or forced to perform.
- Dolphin watching tours where boats chase or disturb marine mammals.
- Wildlife selfies or photo ops with drugged or chained animals.
These activities often involve stress and suffering for the animals, even if they seem harmless on the surface.
What Ethical Alternatives Can You Recommend?
Instead, we encourage villa owners to suggest experiences that still allow guests to connect with animals, but in ways that respect their natural behaviors and habitats. These activities focus on observation, conservation, and education rather than interaction or entertainment.
- Visiting National Parks – Explore places like West Bali National Park. This park offers opportunities to observe wildlife, including deer, monkeys, and birds, in their natural habitats. Guests can join ranger-guided treks or boat tours focused on conservation and education.
- Visiting Sanctuaries – Destinations such as the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary in Ubud and the Sangeh Monkey Forest Sanctuary in Badung are home to long-tailed macaques that live freely in natural forest environments. These sanctuaries are managed with a focus on cultural preservation, habitat protection, and respectful interaction with the environment. Visitors can enjoy the unique experience of observing monkeys in a setting that values both nature and spirituality.
- Birdwatching and Nature Walks – Join local guides for birdwatching or forest walks in mangrove ecosystems, rice paddies, or highland forests. These tours follow ethical wildlife viewing standards and offer valuable insights into the local biodiversity.
- Volunteering or Supporting Conservation Programs – Encourage guests to engage with local environmental organizations that do conservation programs, such as turtle conservation, BAWA Foundation, Friends of Nature, People, and Forest. Even those who love the sea can join reef-safe snorkelling or diving tours while also supporting coral transplantation.
These kinds of activities provide meaningful, respectful, and educational experiences for travelers.
How Can You Promote Animal Welfare at Your Villa?
Here are some simple yet impactful ways to champion animal welfare right from your villa:
- Educate Your Guests: Display information in your villa about the importance of animal welfare. Encourage your guests to make responsible choices while exploring the local area.
- Choose Ethical Tours and Activities: Partner with local organizations that offer responsible wildlife encounters, such as sanctuary visits or guided wildlife watching that respects animals’ habitats.
- Adopt Pet-Friendly Practices: If your villa is pet-friendly, ensure that the animals have a comfortable and safe environment, with adequate space and attention to their needs.
- Support Local Conservation Efforts: Get involved with local environmental NGOs that are working towards animal protection and conservation.
In Conclusion: It’s About Respect
Animal welfare isn’t just a buzzword. It’s about creating a sustainable, ethical tourism experience that respects both animals and the environment. By aligning your villa with these values, you attract conscious travelers, enhance your reputation, and do your part to protect the planet for future generations.
Conscious travelers will notice. They’ll come for the beautiful setting, but they’ll remember your commitment to doing good. In return, they’ll become loyal guests — and even better, passionate advocates for your villa and its ethical approach to hospitality.
