SAT México recognizes that animal welfare is a fundamental component of sustainable tourism and biodiversity conservation.
As a leading Destination Management Company (DMC) in Mexico, we are committed to developing, promoting, and commercializing only those travel experiences that respect the physical and psychological well-being of animals, support ecosystem conservation, and contribute to the responsible development of the destinations where we operate.
Our policy is founded on the principle that no economic benefit or tourism experience should ever be achieved at the expense of animal suffering, exploitation, or unnecessary distress.
All employees, suppliers, business partners, and representatives of SAT México are expected to conduct their activities in accordance with the principles established in this policy.
The purpose of this policy is to establish the corporate criteria for the evaluation, selection, promotion, and oversight of animal-based tourism experiences, ensuring that all products and services offered by SAT México align with internationally recognized principles of animal welfare and responsible tourism.
This policy applies to:
SAT México adopts the following principles as the foundation for all business decisions involving tourism experiences with animals.
SAT México recognizes that animals are sentient beings capable of experiencing pain, stress, and positive emotions. Therefore, they must always be treated with respect, dignity, and compassion.
We prioritize tourism experiences that contribute to the conservation of wildlife, biodiversity, and natural ecosystems over activities whose primary purpose is entertainment.
We promote experiences that generate environmental, social, and economic benefits while safeguarding animal welfare and encouraging responsible visitor behavior.
Whenever there is reasonable doubt regarding the welfare of animals involved in a tourism activity, SAT México will apply the precautionary principle and may refrain from promoting or selling the experience until sufficient information and evidence are available to support an informed decision.
SAT México is committed to periodically reviewing and updating its animal welfare criteria in accordance with advances in scientific knowledge, applicable legislation, and internationally recognized best practices.
SAT México evaluates tourism experiences involving animals using the internationally recognized Five Domains Model of Animal Welfare, which considers both the physical and mental well-being of animals.
Every experience must demonstrate satisfactory conditions in the following areas:
These criteria form the basis for evaluating, approving, and maintaining relationships with suppliers offering animal-related tourism experiences.
Before incorporating any supplier offering animal-related tourism experiences into our portfolio, SAT México will conduct an assessment that includes, but is not limited to, the following criteria:
Suppliers must demonstrate compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, including:
Facilities must provide conditions that ensure the welfare of the animals, including:
SAT México expects suppliers to demonstrate responsible animal management practices, including:
Where applicable, suppliers should actively contribute to conservation through:
Suppliers are expected to provide accurate, complete, and transparent information to enable SAT México to conduct an objective evaluation of their operations and animal welfare practices.
SAT México may promote and commercialize experiences such as:
Approval of any activity will depend on full compliance with the principles and requirements established in this policy.
The following activities require a case-by-case assessment before they may be approved for commercialization:
Authorization will only be granted where sufficient evidence demonstrates that high standards of animal welfare are maintained.
SAT México will not promote, sell, organize, or recommend experiences that involve practices inconsistent with this policy.
The following activities are strictly prohibited:
SAT México does not support activities involving:
SAT México will not commercialize:
SAT México does not promote:
The following interactions are prohibited:
When tourism experiences involve domestic animals, suppliers must demonstrate that the animals:
SAT México reserves the right to suspend or discontinue the commercialization of any experience where these standards are not consistently met.
Executive Management is responsible for:
The Product Department shall:
The Operations Department shall:
The Sales Department shall:
Compliance with this policy is a mandatory condition for establishing and maintaining a commercial relationship with SAT México.
Suppliers are expected to:
Failure to comply with these requirements may result in the suspension or termination of the commercial relationship.
All SAT México employees, suppliers, and business partners are encouraged to report any activity, practice, or situation that may compromise animal welfare or violate the principles outlined in this policy.
Reports will be reviewed confidentially and objectively.
Where appropriate, SAT México may implement one or more of the following actions:
SAT México is committed to providing regular training and awareness programs to strengthen employees’ knowledge of:
Training programs will be reviewed periodically to ensure they remain aligned with current legislation, industry developments, and internationally recognized standards.
This policy shall be reviewed at least once every two years, or earlier if significant changes occur in:
Any revisions shall be approved by Executive Management before implementation.
This policy has been developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles of animal welfare and responsible tourism, drawing upon guidance and best practices established by organizations dedicated to sustainable tourism, biodiversity conservation, and animal welfare.
SAT México is committed to continuously aligning this policy with evolving international standards and sustainability certification requirements.
Through this commitment, we aim to ensure that our tourism experiences contribute positively to wildlife conservation, respect animal welfare, and support the long-term sustainability of the destinations where we operate.
Each supplier offering animal-related tourism experiences shall be evaluated against the following criteria. SAT México may request supporting documentation, conduct interviews, or perform on-site inspections as part of the evaluation process.
| Evaluation Criteria | Compliant | Non-Compliant |
| Compliance with applicable laws and regulations | ☐ | ☐ |
| Veterinary care program in place | ☐ | ☐ |
| Adequate nutrition and feeding practices | ☐ | ☐ |
| Continuous access to clean drinking water | ☐ | ☐ |
| Sufficient freedom of movement appropriate to the species | ☐ | ☐ |
| Animals are able to express natural behaviors | ☐ | ☐ |
| No coercive or abusive training methods | ☐ | ☐ |
| No animal performances or entertainment shows | ☐ | ☐ |
| No inappropriate tourist interaction with animals | ☐ | ☐ |
| Environmental education initiatives | ☐ | ☐ |
| Participation in conservation programs (where applicable) | ☐ | ☐ |
To support consistent decision-making, SAT México classifies animal-related tourism experiences into three categories:
🟢 Approved Activities
The following activities are generally acceptable, provided they comply with all applicable legal requirements and the standards established in this policy:
🟡 Activities Subject to Assessment
The following activities require an individual assessment before they may be approved:
Approval will depend on the supplier demonstrating compliance with SAT México’s animal welfare standards and providing sufficient evidence that animal welfare is consistently protected.
🔴 Prohibited Activities
SAT México will not promote, sell, or recommend the following activities:
