Vegans Can Eat ‘Anywhere’ These Days, Says the New York Times

One of the world’s most reputable publications has spoken about vegan travel as plant-based eating becomes increasingly popular around the globe.  While in previous times, avoiding animal-based foods proved restrictive, vegans and vegetarians who travel can now “eat well, anywhere,” according to The New York Times.

Article author Shivani Vora wrote that while complications may be encountered, “it is possible to eat deliciously while traveling the world if you follow either [a vegetarian or vegan] diet.” 

Vora offered tips to readers looking for vegan travel, including mindfully selecting destinations and tours that offer options, nodding towards the world’s largest group travel company, Intrepid Travel, which launched three vegan tour packages last month. The tours take travelers to India, Thailand, and Italy, allowing them to sample the local plant-based cuisine. “[W]e feel it’s important to encourage and celebrate vegan cultures and practices around the world as one way responsible travelers can help save our planet,” said Intrepid Travel.

Intrepid isn’t the only travel giant to acknowledge the public’s growing interest in vegan and cruelty-free living. Thomas Cook, Britain’s largest tour operator, announced last month it will remove theme parks that hold orcas captive from its itineraries. The decision included the dropping of SeaWorld and Loro Parque. Thomas Cook said it was motivated by the expectations of its customers as more move away from entertainment that relies on the exploitation of animals.

Other big names in the tourism industry have made similar pledges earlier this year. TripAdvisor promised it would stop selling tickets to shows or exhibits that use endangered or wild animals for entertainment last April, while Gate 1 Travel vowed to stop supporting captive elephant attractions due to concerns about animal cruelty.

In its article, The New York Times praised Six Senses and Como Hotels and Resorts for their accommodation and knowledge of plant-based diets, as well as cruise lines including Viking River Cruises and Crystal Cruises, joining other cruise lines like Oceania that have upped their vegan options. Meanwhile, vegan cruises have launched in both Australia and Canada.

Vegan living has become so popular that travel website Lonely Planet named vegan and vegetarian travel as a top trend for 2018.