Sustainability Policies

Goway believes all animals—wild or domesticated—deserve respect and care. The best way to experience animals is from a respectful distance in their natural environment, where they can express natural behaviors freely. 

Where animals are under human care, we expect partners to provide the highest welfare standards, aligned with the Five Domains of Animal Welfare: 

• Nutrition – Access to sufficient, clean, and varied food and water
• Environment – Conditions that support comfort, space, and appropriate environmental stimuli
• Health – Good physical health, free from pain, injury, or disease
• Behaviour – Opportunities to engage in natural behaviours like foraging, playing, and bonding
• Mental State – Positive experiences leading to pleasure, comfort, and vitality, while minimizing fear, boredom, or distress 

Goway recognizes that wild animals’ complex needs can rarely be met in captivity. Any facility housing wild animals must not only meet high welfare standards but also work toward phasing out exploitative practices. 

Goway classifies animal-related experiences into four tiers: 

1. Prohibited: Goway will not promote any venues or activities that involve the following animal interactions or experiences:
   1. Direct contact with wild animals such as elephant riding or bathing, swimming with dolphins, walking with lions, or other direct interactions that cause distress, risk to animals, or lack credible regulation.
   2. Animal performances including whale shows, circuses, orangutan boxing, or any performance involving wild animals
   3. Photo opportunities with wild animals including tiger selfies, sloth or primate handling, dolphin kissing, or similar staged encounters
   4. Animal fights, races, or cruel sport/cultural events such as bullfighting or running, crocodile wrestling, dog fighting, rodeos, elephant polo, horse racing, or similar
   5. Facilities breeding or keeping wild animals for commercial exploitation including crocodile farms, civet coffee farms, bear bile farms, and turtle farms
   6. Trophy hunting, canned hunting, or sport fishing 
       
2. Conditional: These activities are permissible with safeguards.
   1. Accredited Zoos and Aquariums: where facilities are accredited by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) or national bodies—provided they:
      1. Do not hold cetaceans in captivity
      2. Do not involve animals in shows or direct visitor contact
      3. Maintain high welfare standards beyond accreditation alone
   2. Domesticated or Working Animals: (e.g., horses/camels): Only permitted when animals are fit for work, provided with proper rest, water, shade, humane equipment, and veterinary care, and are handled by competent, trained staff.
   3. Sanctuary & Rehabilitation Centres: focused on animal welfare and conservation, not profit or entertainment. We prioritize venues certified by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) or those following World Animal Protection’s Elephant-Friendly Venue Guidelines. 
       
3. Supported: Offering opportunities to observe animals in the wild from a respectful distance, while also supporting accredited sanctuaries, rehabilitation centres, and ethical wildlife tours that demonstrate conservation or community benefits. We prioritize providers certified by credible organizations like the Whale and Dolphin Conservation or World Cetacean Alliance (WCA). 
    
4. Under Review: Experiences that are being actively assessed against Goway’s Animal Welfare Policy and may be removed if they do not meet required criteria or demonstrate a clear path to improvement. 
    

Goway only works with suppliers who meet our animal welfare expectations and commit to: 

• Ensuring all animals under their care experience good physical and mental well-being
• Adhering to the Five Domains of Animal Welfare framework
• Phasing out exploitative wild animal interactions and entertainment
• Providing transparency about animal welfare practices upon request 

Goway is committed to reviewing our policy annually. We will: 

• Educate our staff, suppliers, and travellers on responsible animal tourism
• Monitor compliance through ongoing dialogue with partners
• Update and publish our policy to maintain transparency and accountabilit

We welcome feedback from travellers, partners, and the public to help strengthen our animal welfare practices. If you have concerns, suggestions, or experiences to share regarding animal welfare on any Goway trip, please submit your feedback at www.goway.com/sustainability. Your input helps us continuously improve and uphold our commitment to responsible tourism. 

Our Commitment 

By following this Animal Welfare Policy, Goway aims to protect animals from exploitation, promote conservation, and offer responsible animal experiences that align with our values as a leader in sustainable tourism. 

Partners must comply with all applicable local, national, and international laws, regulations, and standards, including those related to labor, health and safety, environmental protection, animal welfare, anti-corruption, and fair competition. 

Goway Travel expects its Partners to respect and uphold the rights and dignity of all people, in line with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Labour Organization (ILO) standards. 

• No Forced, Child, or Compulsory Labor: Partners must not use or benefit from forced labor, modern slavery, or child labor in any form.
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Partners must foster inclusive workplaces free from discrimination, harassment, or abuse based on race, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or other status.
• Freedom of Association: Employees must be free to organize, join unions, and bargain collectively without fear of retaliation.
• Fair Compensation and Working Hours: Wages must meet or exceed legal minimum standards, with working hours that are reasonable and freely chosen. We strongly encourage our partners to go beyond compliance by paying a living wage that supports a decent standard of living.  

Partners must provide a safe and healthy working environment. This includes identifying risks, providing appropriate training, and ensuring employees have access to necessary protective equipment and health services. 

As part of our commitment to environmental sustainability and regenerative tourism, Partners must actively work to minimize negative environmental impacts. 

• Reduce emissions, waste, and pollution across operations
• Support conservation and biodiversity
• Prioritize renewable energy, responsible resource use, and circular practices
• Comply with all relevant environmental regulations

Goway Travel believes in responsible tourism that respects the well-being of animals and supports biodiversity. Partners that engage in animal-related activities (such as wildlife tours, animal encounters, food, or material sourcing) must adhere to the following principles: 

• Respect and Humane Treatment: Animals must never be abused, exploited, or subjected to cruel practices. Activities involving wild or domestic animals must follow the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare.
• Ethical Wildlife Interactions: No wild animal should be held, touched, fed, or used for performances or rides, unless it is part of a legitimate conservation or rescue program with transparent ethical practices.
• Sustainable Sourcing: Products derived from animals (e.g., leather, wool, down) must be sourced from operations that ensure humane treatment and avoid endangered species.
• No Animal Testing: Partners must not conduct or commission animal testing, unless required by law.
• Conservation Support: Partners must not support or participate in the trade, trafficking, or unethical display of wildlife or exotic animals.

We encourage partners to align with international best practices, such as those outlined by the World Animal Protection or ABTA's Global Welfare Guidelines. 

Partners are expected to conduct business with integrity, transparency, and accountability. 

• No Bribery or Corruption: All forms of bribery, kickbacks, or unethical influence are strictly prohibited.
• Transparency: Partners must maintain accurate records and provide documentation when requested.
• Conflicts of Interest: Any actual or potential conflicts must be disclosed to Goway Travel.

Partners should work to create positive social and economic impact in the communities they serve. 

• Support local hiring and fair economic opportunity
• Promote cultural respect and protection of heritage
• Engage with and listen to local stakeholders

Goway Travel reserves the right to assess Partners for compliance with this Code. We may conduct reviews, request documentation, or require corrective actions. Partners are encouraged to adopt a mindset of continuous improvement in line with the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Partners should work toward publicly sharing sustainability progress. Larger Partners (e.g., with more than 50 employees or revenue over USD $5M) are particularly expected to publish an annual sustainability report or equivalent disclosure covering environmental, social, and ethical performance. 

By partnering with Goway Travel, the partner acknowledges and agrees to uphold the standards set forth in this Code of Conduct. We view our partners as vital stakeholders in building a more inclusive, regenerative, and equitable travel industry. 

We welcome feedback from travelers, partners, and the public. If you have concerns, suggestions, or experiences to share regarding Goway’s sustainability policy, please submit your feedback at www.goway.com/sustainability. Your input helps us continuously improve and uphold our commitment to responsible tourism.