Sex Holidays by Thomas Cook
December
2005 - TRUTH ABOUT RAPE succeeds in campaign against this sex tourism.
We received an email from
Kathryn Shaw, Team Manager - Customer Relations at
Thomas Cook - in response to our campaign against their sex tours in
Amsterdam.
She wrote to ask if we would remove the contact
details of Charlotte Pickard, Customer Relations Officer from our website
(well no we didn't because she was the only person from Thomas Cook who
replied to our members emails). She also said:
"Please also note the Thomas Cook website
that you quote has been
updated and therefore the information you provided is now out of date".
This is her way of saying that the 'Truth About
Rape' campaign against the exploitative use
by Thomas Cook of prostitution for tourism was successful and Thomas Cook
have taken it off the website.
There was no mention in her email of
Thomas Cook's
Responsible Business Policy
which states
that "the lives of working people would be greatly improved if they became
better educated through travel". Thomas Cook further state that their
company "opposes and actively discourages illegal, abusive or exploitative
forms of tourism" - and so we asked our members to write to say that
offering tours of prostitutes was abusive and exploitative.
Campaign Report
The Observer reports on the sex holidays
offered by Thomas Cook, Britain's longest running tour
operator. Thomas Cook is launching family tours to see prostitutes touting
for trade in Amsterdam's red light district. The night-time excursions,
which include a briefing about the 'system' from a former prostitute, are
open to children of any age, and the company boasts 'under threes go
free'.
Please write in to protest these tours in Amsterdam. (See
the
example letters
that have already been written)
The holidays advertise prostitution as if it was a type of 'Disney'
attraction:
"Of course, no visit to Amsterdam would be complete without a
night-time visit to the famous Red Light District. One of the
oldest and most beautiful parts of the city, the narrow, cobbled streets
of this quarter fill with hordes of tourists on weekends and holidays. All
come to gawk at the surreal display of scantily clad women who pose in the
purply-red glow of their black-lit shop windows. Not unlike a bizarre zoo,
the Red Light District is an unmissable experience, as attested by the
packs of roving young men, couples holding hands, giggling groups of
women, and busloads of Japanese tourists toting cameras. Spectacle
notwithstanding, real business is done here at a steady pace, and those
seeking a slightly more authentic experience should head for the area on a
weeknight".
Thomas Cook (previous
website - now updated 12th Dec 2005 with this offensive text removed)
Thomas Cook's
Responsible Business Policy states that
"163 years ago a former Baptist preacher and temperance supporter, Thomas
Cook, created the first package holiday out of a sense of social
responsibility. In keeping with the values of the Victorian Society of the
day, he believed that by offering alternative, more virtuous and learning
leisure activities, the lives of working people would be greatly improved
if they became better educated through travel". WE are sure that Thomas
Cook would be turning in his grave at the idea of sex tourism available to
everyone of any age through his company. Thomas Cook state that their
company "opposes and actively discourages illegal, abusive or exploitative
forms of tourism" - well if you feel that they have got it wrong with
offering tours of prostitutes write to let them know.
Write to:
Kathryn Shaw
Telephone: 01733 411908
email:
customer.relations@thomascooksignature.com
Charlotte Pickard
Customer Relations Officer
Email:
charlotte.pickard@thomascooksignature.com
Phone: 01733 411908
Or write to as many of the Board of Directors as you can - see full
List of Thomas Cook Directors
Thomas Holtrop is the Chairman of the Management Board of Thomas Cook
AG and can be contacted at:
Thomas Cook AG
Zimmersmuehlenweg 55
D 61440 Oberursel Germany
Phone: +49 6171 - 65-00
Fax: +49 6171 - 65-2125
The UK address for Thomas Cook is:
Thomas Cook Retail Ltd
The Thomas Cook Business Park
Coningsby Road
Peterborough
PE3 8SB
| 
