Lonely Planet Head Office
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Email: talk2us@lonelyplanet.com.au

Dear Editor,

When I travel, I always consult my Lonely Planet guidebooks to prepare my trip and plan my itinerary. I agree whole-heartedly with the message at the beginning of each book expressing the importance of "Responsible Travel".

I have recently returned from a trip to Thailand and based on what I learned from a boxed text section concerning "Elephant Welfare", I decided to volunteer at the Elephant Nature Park.

The experience changed my life as it opened my eyes to the plight of the endangered Asian Elephant. In order to stress your message of responsible travel, I believe it is necessary for the "Elephant Welfare" section to be re-written slightly.

As the text already states, the need for employed elephants no longer exists as Thailand banned logging in 1989. Currently, the demand for domesticated elephants lies only within the tourism industry: trekking camps offering elephant rides; mahout training courses; "pachyderm-produced art" as your guidebook lists; and performance shows.

With your help, and Lonely Planets vast audience, I believe the situation for Thailand's revered elephants can be improved tremendously. I urge you to modify the Elephant Welfare section so that it informs the reader of the tortuous and violent act that is domestication. Only after an elephant has been through that horror can it be considered "safe" for tourists. A responsible traveller should know that their tourist dollars are better spent at sanctuaries like the Elephant Nature Park, and not with "enterprising activists" that make these animals perform for humans.

I hope to see a future Thailand where elephants just get to be elephants, and not street beggars, stage performers, artists or taxis.

Sincerely,