Vienna, 27 September 2022 – On World Tourism Day, global animal welfare organisation, FOUR PAWS, has brought together seventy-five major tourism businesses, to back its campaign to end the dog and cat meat trade in Southeast Asia.

Every year, an estimated 10 million dogs and cats are captured, transported, and slaughtered for their meat in Cambodia, Vietnam and Indonesia. The majority of these animals are stolen pets or community and stray animals taken from the streets to supply the trade. The sheer scale of the trade and the involved suffering makes it one of the most severe companion animal welfare issues in Asia, if not the world.

By the end of 2022, the number of foreign tourists to the Southeast Asian countries is anticipated to increase by 4.72 percent from 129.2 million in 2018 to 155.4^[1] million visitors per year. In 2019, travel and tourism contributed nearly $400bn[^2] to their economies.

Dr Karan Kukreja, FOUR PAWS Head of Campaigns Southeast Asia (Companion Animals), spoke of his delight in garnering such significant support. “We have seen an incredible response from the travel and tourism sector on this majorly important animal welfare topic.

Kukreja continues, “Our campaign, which has acquired nearly two million petition signatories, is making inroads - over the past two years alone, we have seen major regencies and cities in the region ban this needless trade.”

Background

FOUR PAWS DCMT CAMPAIGN PETITION: https://help.four-paws.org/en/end-dog-and-cat-meat-trade-southeast-asia

Across Asia, opposition to the dog and cat meat trades is increasing, with an ever-growing number of countries and territories (Taiwan, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Thailand and two major cities in mainland China) banning the trade in and slaughter, sale and consumption of dogs. In September 2021, South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in suggested it could be time to consider a dog meat ban, and a government-initiated task force is currently considering the issue. President Elect Yoon Suk-yeol has also stated he would not oppose a dog meat ban provided there is social consensus.

A FOUR PAWS survey conducted in early 2021 across Vietnam found that the majority of Vietnamese want their government to take action, with a total of 91% saying the trade should be banned or discouraged. When asked if they would support a ban on the dog and cat meat trade, 88% of respondents said that they would be in favour of such a measure. In addition, respondents were asked if they felt consumption of dog and cat meat was part of Vietnamese culture, with the resounding answer being no, with 95% indicating that this was not part of their culture.

[1] Global Data. [accessed 2022 Sept 27]. https://www.globaldata.com/tourist-arrivals-to-asean-will-reach-155-4-million-by-2022-says-globaldata/

[2] Statistica. [accessed 2022 Sept 27]. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1102510/southeast-asia-travel-and-tourism-gdp-contribution/