New Tourism Trend: Travelling with Pets or Pet Sitting at a Pet Hotel?

Abstract

Animals have been an important part of human life for ages. Nowadays, some people even treat pets as life-companions, which accompany them even on vacations. The main purpose of this article is a) to identify issues that owners deal with while planning a trip or when travelling with their pets and b) to present the attitudes of Slovenian pet owners regarding pet hotels. The research was conducted in Slovenia in 2019 and 2020, using a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods. The findings show that Slovene pet owners rather travel with their pets than put them in pet hotels, particularly when going on vacation by car and travelling on short trips through Slovenia or in neighbouring countries. Regarding pet hotels, pet owners are mostly concerned about professional care for their pets and less about the price of the service. The study gives important information to tourist accommodation providers and pet hotel providers on how to adapt their services to their ‘pet guest’ and satisfy the pet owners.

An Analysis of the Demand for Tourist Accommodation to Travel with Dogs in Spain

“…Interpersonal limitations, such as the costs associated with taking the dog on vacation and the scarcity of information on travel options with pets [24,28], add complexity and challenges to accommodation planning. Finally, structural limitations, represented by the lack of establishments allowing dogs to sleep in the same room, establish physical constraints that directly impact the choice of accommodations compatible with canine needs [38].…”