Spanish Tourism shamefully promoting bullfighting to Irish holidaymakers
24 July 2015

"Come to Spain and discover the world of bullfighting - you are sure to have fun." This is the shameful message being presented by the Spanish Government's international tourism authority. The tourism body is not only encouraging people to attend bullfights but to also participate in the barbarity, saying "there are many companies in Spain that prepare everything necessary for you to bullfight young cows and bulls".

Earlier this month, the Spanish Tourism Office in Ireland was courting Irish travel writers in an attempt to promote animal cruelty events in Spain. The Dublin-based office wined and dined members of the media in an event to "celebrate" the cruel Pamplona bullrunning festival.

Those who turned up to the Morgan Hotel's penthouse suite were plied with Spanish wine and gifted a red "Pamplona - I like it" neckerchief - the type worn by drunk revellers who partake in the internationally condemned bullrun. Video footage was played at the Dublin gathering, showing the doomed bulls running through the crowds towards their painful fate in the local bullring.

One blogger who attended later presented the bullrun as a "breathtaking race" for the "most daring participants", adding that "The Spanish Tourism Office in Ireland really know how to throw a party". There was no mention of the suffering of the bulls, of course - something that Spanish Tourism was unlikely to have mentioned on the night.

The Irish Council Against Blood Sports has contacted members of the media who attended to highlight the cruelty of bullrunning and bullfighting. We are urging them to reject animal cruelty promotions and use their positions to encourage holidaymakers to boycott such events.

The Spanish Tourism website, Spain.info, is clearly keen to attract people of all nationalities to the bullfighting hellholes where animals are brutally tortured and killed. They have translated their pro-bullfighting message into multiple languages, including English, German, Dutch, Italian and French.

The offensive content presented on the page aimed at Irish holidaymakers includes:

• "Come to Spain and discover the world of bullfighting - you are sure to have fun."

• "In Andalusia there are estates with everything designed for your enjoyment...There you can see fighting bulls and have the chance to take part in various fights with young bulls."

• "Do you want to see a bull face to face? There are many companies in Spain that organise "capeas". They prepare everything necessary for you to bullfight young cows and bulls called 'becerros' or 'novillos'."

• "Can you imagine feeling all the excitement of the world of bullfighting? Then come to Spain, because as well as attending spectacular bullfights you can discover the farms where these animals are raised, go on themed routes and take part in enjoyable traditional fiestas. An unforgettable experience."

• "Would you like to see a fighting bull in its natural habitat? In Spain there are stunning estates dedicated to rearing fighting bulls...where you can live an authentic farm day, fight a bull in a small ring and sample typical regional delicacies such as blood pudding and bull stew. Sounds good, don’t you think?"

• "After these experiences you may well become a bullfighting enthusiast. If this is the case, there are several regions in Spain where you can visit bullfighting museums, bull farms, bullrings... all in your own time. Some examples are the Madrid Bullfighting Route and a horse and bullfighting route in Cadiz."

By trying to lure holidaymakers into the blood-soaked bullrings, Spanish tourism is complicit in the continuation of this cruelty. As most Spaniards no longer have any interest in bullfighting, it is in many cases the tourists who keep bullrings afloat. If tourism authorities and travel agents stopped pushing tickets on tourists, it would surely spell the end for many bullrings.

Spain is the number one destination for Irish tourists with over 1.3 million visits from Ireland every year. The Irish Council Against Blood Sports believes that by actively promoting bullfighting, Spanish tourism authorities risk repelling many potential visitors who view bullfighting as the abhorrent and unacceptable obscenity that it is.

 ACTION ALERT 

Sign and share our new petition
Spanish Tourism - Stop promoting cruel bullfighting
https://www.change.org/p/spanish-tourism-stop-promoting-cruel-bullfighting

Contact the Spanish Tourism Office and make it clear that, as one of the majority opposed to animal cruelty, you find it very offensive that they are actively promoting bullfighting and bullrunning. If their promotion of animal cruelty would make you chose an alternative holiday destination, please point this out in your correspondence.

Gonzalo Ceballos, Director
Spanish Tourism Office in Ireland
1-3 Westmoreland Street, Dublin
Tel: 01-6350200
Email: dublin@tourspain.es, munich@tourspain.es, frankfurt@tourspain.es, berlin@tourspain.es, guangzhou@tourspain.es, beijing@tourspain.es, londres@tourspain.es, nuevayork@tourspain.es, milan@tourspain.es, prensa@tourspain.es, roma@tourspain.es, viena@tourspain.es, spaininfo@tourspain.es, duesseldorf@tourspain.es, losangeles@tourspain.es, chicago@tourspain.es, oetmiami@tourspain.es, copenhague@tourspain.es, paris@tourspain.es, info.tokio@tourspain.es
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spain.info.ie
Tweet to: @Spain @SpaininIreland Spanish Tourism - Stop promoting cruel bullfighting https://www.change.org/p/spanish-tourism-stop-promoting-cruel-bullfighting
Tweet to @Spain

Spanish Tourism is promoting cruel bullfighting. Sign petition asking them to stop https://t.co/U7Isqt6YDe pic.twitter.com/6BSxPrY8kk

— Ban Blood Sports (@banbloodsports) July 25, 2015

How the fuck is torturing a bull to death entertainment? Filthy barbaric scum. #banbullfighting

— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) July 25, 2015

More anti-bullfighting petitions

"Ticketmaster: Stop selling bullfighting tickets"
Stop selling bullfighting tickets
About.com: Stop publicising cruel bullfighting events
Fodors Travel Guides: Stop directing tourists to bullrings

If you choose to holiday in a bullfighting country (Spain, France, Portugal, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela), please do not visit bullfighting arenas or museums. Avoid purchasing any bullfight-related souvenirs. Join the international campaign against bullfighting. Please register your opposition to this horrific blood sport with the governments and political representatives of bullfighting countries as well as to the local Ambassadors.

Contact the Spanish Ambassador to Ireland, or your country of residence, to register opposition to bullfighting. Express your desire to see bullfighting banned throughout all of Spain.

The Spanish Ambassador to Ireland
Embassy of Spain
17A Merlyn Park, Dublin 4.

Email: emb.dublin@maec.es
Tel 1: +353 (0)1 2691640 or +353 (0)1 2692597

Videos: The cruelty of the Pamplona bullrun and bullfighting

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