ABSTRACT
The focus of this chapter is on two main themes. The first is an investigation of leadership realities in the form of policies and practices that are (or are not) employed by different actors and sectors for the sustainable and responsible use of animals in tourism. Such a focus includes vastly different scales, from the UNWTO to industry, public policy, and finally to the individual level—tourists. The general conclusion of this section is that more action is required at all levels to elevate the interests of animals in tourism. The second theme introduces several models developed to gain traction on how theory can inform our use of animals (readers are urged to go to the original sources for a more comprehensive statement on these models). These models are ultimately organised into two chapters (this one and Chapter 12) because of their number and level of detail. None of these models existed during the first edition of this book, showing how far the sub-field has advanced in just over a decade, with most models published from 2021 onwards. I start with research on integrative social contracts theory (ISCT), which is a model that theoretically connects with the models that follow. Several justice-based models are also included, as the most numerous of all. The focus in Chapter 12 switches to what may loosely be classified as assessment models because they assess the welfare requirements of animals used in tourism.
