"Enjoying with Pets" Pet Owners Going on 'Petcations' [Kim Suwan's Animal Report]

Increase in 'Petcations' Traveling with Pets
Major Hotel Chains Launch Products Targeting Pet Owners
Experts: "Services for Pet Owners Will Increase... Thorough Management of Accommodation Facilities Also Needed"

Interior view of a pet-friendly hotel located in Haeundae-gu, Busan. This hotel allows guests to leave their pets such as dogs and cats or stay together with them. The 10-story building houses a dog cafe, pet supplies store, pet grooming salon, and a veterinary clinic. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] "Now you can go on summer vacation with your pets," "Hotel vacations (hotel + vacation) are more fun when I go with my dog."

Office worker Kim (27) recently used a pet-friendly hotel with her dog during her summer vacation. Kim said, "I was worried about COVID-19 and had limited travel options, so I went on a hotel vacation with my dog. I often left my dog with acquaintances when I went on vacation, so being able to bring him along was the best part. They provided all the necessary items for my dog, such as a bed, shampoo, water bowl, and food bowl, so I could enjoy comfortably. Above all, the biggest advantage was being able to spend time with my dog without worrying about other people's eyes," she said.

Recently, as the population raising pets steadily increases, pet vacations (pet + vacation) where people enjoy traveling with their dogs or cats are gaining popularity. Pet vacations refer to traveling together with pets while enjoying hotel services or various leisure activities.

In particular, as demand for traveling with pets rises, dedicated travel facilities for pet families (Pet + Family) have emerged, attracting many pet owners.

Experts analyze that services for pet owners will continue to increase in line with the demand in related industries.

According to a survey, the number of pet owners planning and going on trips with dogs, cats, and other pets is increasing.

A recent survey conducted by travel agency Expedia targeted 300 men and women in their 20s and 30s, including 210 pet families living with pets, and found that 56.7% of respondents had experience traveling with pets.

Also, 8 out of 10 pet owners decide both travel schedules and destinations considering their pets. Respondents chose short trips (83.2%) to nearby destinations (78.2%) considering their pets' health, accommodation, and travel environment, and used package products (41.2%) that included pet-exclusive △flights △hotels △activities.

The most common activities during trips with pets were 'taking memorable photos with pets' (74.8%), 'letting pets socialize with other travelers' pets' (42.9%), and 'requesting pet services on flights or at accommodations' (29.4%).

As the number of pet owners traveling with pets increases, related industries are planning various services. Not just spaces where pets are allowed, but hotels and resorts equipped with pet-only rooms, swimming pools, amusement parks, cafes, and restaurants have appeared. Especially, rooms provide pet toys, dedicated beds, tables, dishes, dryers, towels, etc., enhancing user convenience.

Photo by Yonhap News

In fact, large hotel companies are also launching products targeting pet owners. Shilla Stay Escape has installed 14 pet-only rooms on the 9th floor and provides services. They created a 'Pet Zone' in the hotel's Chinese restaurant, allowing dining with dogs.

The Grand Mercure Ambassador Hotel & Residences in Yongsan, Seoul, allows pets in all 202 rooms, making it popular among pet owners who want to enjoy hotel vacations. A feature of this hotel is the 'Sky Meong Park' on the 31st floor, where guests can enjoy a walk with their dogs overlooking the Han River from a high floor.

Vista Walkerhill Hotel not only offers pet-friendly accommodations but also launched a program called 'Refresh Your Pet.' This program allows pet behavior trainers to walk with dogs in the Walkerhill Healing Forest and provide customized pet care services through activities like frisbee and nose work. Thanks to this service, pet owners can leave their dogs with peace of mind and enjoy their trips.

However, in public places, pets must be transported using dedicated strollers or carriers. Also, pets are sometimes restricted from accompanying owners in restaurants and bars.

The increase in such programs has led to increased consumption. According to an analysis by the accommodation O2O (Online to Offline) platform Yanolja last year, sales of rooms that allow pets increased more than sevenfold within a year.

Photo by Yonhap News

Many places have also introduced leisure activity programs for pet owners traveling with pets. Tongyeong Tourism Development Corporation operates a pet-friendly cable car where dogs or cats can ride together. The Tongyeong Cable Car, located on Mireuksan Mountain in Tongyeong, Gyeongnam, operates 2 out of 47 cable cars exclusively for pets. Additionally, the cable car allows one pet per person, up to four pets total, and pets must be in cages or strollers to board.

Namiseom Island operates a park called 'Together Park' along with hotels and condos where dogs can stay. In Yangyang, Gangwon Province, a dog-only beach called 'Meong Beach' has also been established.

There was also an airline offering fare discounts for travelers with pets. Jeju Air held a fare discount event for six domestic routes for travelers with pets until the 31st of last month.

Photo by Yonhap News

However, some say that although pet-friendly accommodations have increased compared to the past, many places still restrict pet access, making it difficult to enjoy traveling together.

According to the previously mentioned survey, many pet owners felt a lack of travel facilities and information for traveling with pets. They cited the lack of pet-friendly travel destinations and accommodations (67.6%) and insufficient information about traveling with pets (56%) as reasons for not experiencing travel with pets.

Experts expressed concerns about side effects related to the rapid growth of industries such as pet-friendly accommodations.

Professor Lee Eunhee of Inha University's Department of Consumer Studies said, "Currently, the hotel industry has been affected by COVID-19, so they are launching programs that allow guests to enjoy hotel vacations with dogs as a way to compensate for business losses. Given the COVID-19 situation, the increase in pet vacations enjoying hotels should be viewed positively," but also pointed out, "Even in pet hotels, there are many non-pet guests, so thorough management by hotels is necessary for them."