TripAdvisor Criticized For Palestine Listings

NEEDHAM, MA — The world's largest human rights organization accused a local online travel company of "profiting off war crimes" by listing hotels and other businesses at Israeli settlements in Palestine on its website. Amnesty International sent a letter to the staff at TripAdvisor, based in Needham, asking the employees to speak out against the company and demand it remove all tourist listings in the Israeli settlements.

Amnesty claimed TripAdvisor and other travel sites are "profiting off war crimes by listing tourist attractions and properties in illegal Israeli settlements." TripAdvisor has more than 70 listings — including hotels, restaurants, rental apartments, and other tourist attractions — in Israeli settlements, according to Amnesty.

"The settlements have had a devastating impact on Palestinian communities over the past five decades," Amnesty International's letter to TripAdvisor employees said. "To make way for their construction, Israel has demolished tens of thousands of Palestinian homes, forcibly displaced large portions of the population and diverted water and other Palestinian natural resources for settlement use ... By promoting tourism in these illegal settlements, TripAdvisor is boosting their economy, helping them to expand and contributing to the mass suffering they've caused."

In a statement on TripAdvisor's website, the company said it understands the issue is a sensitive matter with cultural and political implications, but said its website strives to create an "apolitical, accurate and useful picture of all accommodations, restaurants and attractions that are currently open for business around the world."

"The listing of a property or business on TripAdvisor does not represent our endorsement of that establishment," communications director Brian Hoyt said in a statement. "We provide the listing as a platform for guests to share their genuine experiences with other travelers. As such, we do not remove listings of properties or businesses that remain active and open for business."

Hoyt also said TripAdvisor’s practices remain consistent with the travel industry and internet search standards. Amnesty International argued TripAdvisor could be the leading voice against human rights violations if it drops the travel listings.

"By cutting business ties with illegal settlements, TripAdvisor would be leading the way in the travel sector and demonstrate a true commitment to ending human rights abuses," the letter said. "We urge you to do the right thing: stand up for human rights and help us and your company put an end to decades of war crimes and other grave violations."