Should You Ever Boycott Travel?

This week, TripAdvisor announced it will no longer sell tickets to animal-based attractions deemed cruel or that involve endangered species. But is this enough—should we even participate in activities where elephants, dolphins, or other wild creatures are domesticated expressly for our amusement? We talk about ethical travel, including the moral maze of slum tourism—can you take a walking tour of Rio’s favelas in good conscience? Is there a difference between boycotting a dictatorship like North Korea and a democracy with a controversial leader, like the Philippines' pugnacious, spat-prone Rodrigo Duterte? And is it reprehensible to require clean towels and sheets every day in a hotel, or fly without investing in a carbon offset program? Just how much effort can—or should—we make? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices