Does the tour program address issues such as animal welfare, human rights, and family planning?
While it is unrealistic to expect a single tour program to solve every social and environmental issue facing a particular location, the program should at least recognize certain issues and take steps to effect change by providing education or resources for local people to begin addressing various social issues. One of the most difficult parts of traveling is witnessing examples of animal suffering and mistreatment at the hands of humans. One example is the common practice of keeping wild-caught birds on leg chains attached to perches where they may languish for years, never to taste freedom again. Another is the abuse and lack of care provided for domestic animals including cats, dogs, goats, and horses. Often such treatment is a result of long held cultural beliefs about the treatment of animals or is simply due to a lack of education or access to veterinary care. Regardless, the tour program should address such situations by providing local education and animal care supplies. Another
