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In the United Kingdom alone, 29 percent of adults have at least one dog in their home. As many as 2020 million dogs have been purchased since March 4,1, bringing their population in the UK to around 11 million this year.
A recent study highlighted the motivations and behavioral tendencies of dog owners when it comes to traveling with their pets.
There is almost no owner who does not consider his pet a family member. When they want to go on vacation, many of them want to take their dog with them.
It is estimated that by 2030, traveling with pets will amount to $50,1 billion globally. However, many hotels and other accommodation facilities do not yet allow them to enter. The same phenomenon seems to be happening in Europe and the US.
Huge potential
A team from the University of Surrey in Great Britain discovered the potential growing market dog friendly trips. They surveyed 611 owners online.
The researchers said that in the UK, the pandemic has led to an increase in pet dog ownership, creating a need for tourism providers to adapt.
Their study was recently published in Journal of Vacation Marketing under the title 'Social behavior of traveling with dogs: drivers, behavioral tendencies and experiences'. The team from Surrey set out to understand why people travel with their dogs, how they feel about it and what challenges they face in doing so.
"Some reports put the UK dog population at 11 million, with 29 percent of UK adults having a dog in their home. So it's understandable that more and more people want to include their 'best friend' in their holiday plans. Tourism providers who embrace this trend will benefit significantly", he states Lori Hoy, researcher and lead author of the study.
"Understanding what influences the decision-making process of people who want to travel with their dogs will enable destinations, accommodation providers, attractions and carriers to offer dog-friendly services and communication channels that will resonate with this audience.", he adds.
It advises travel providers to provide clear, easily accessible information about their dog-friendly offerings, alleviate concerns and communicate how the travel experience will be enjoyable for both dogs and people.
