How Pets Are Shaping Our Travel Habits
TL;DR
Pet ownership has surged worldwide and the effects ripple far beyond the pet food aisle. One of the most significant -- and least discussed -- consequences is the way animals are reshaping the travel industry. Millions of holiday plans are altered, postponed or cancelled outright because owners cannot find reliable care for their pets. At the same time, the hospitality sector is scrambling to become more pet-friendly, new travel destinations are marketing themselves to animal lovers, and platforms like The Pet Sitter are filling the care gap so that owners can finally book that trip without the guilt. This article looks at the numbers, the psychology and the trends driving this shift.
The Pet Ownership Boom
Global pet ownership has been climbing for two decades, but the pandemic accelerated the trend dramatically. In the United States alone, roughly 66 percent of households now include at least one pet, up from 56 percent in 2018. Europe has followed a similar trajectory. Germany added more than a million new pets during 2020 and 2021, France saw dog registrations jump by over 15 percent, and the Netherlands reported record shelter adoption rates.
What does all of this have to do with travel? Everything. Each new pet owner is also a prospective traveller who must now factor an animal into every holiday decision. That single consideration -- "Who will look after the dog?" -- cascades into choices about destinations, duration, accommodation and even whether the trip happens at all.
The Guilt Factor
Ask any pet owner about leaving their animal behind and you will hear some variation of the same story. There is a deep, sometimes irrational, sense of guilt attached to walking out the front door with a suitcase. Surveys consistently show that this guilt is one of the top emotional barriers to travel among pet owners.
A 2024 study by a major European travel insurer found that 54 percent of dog owners described "significant anxiety" about leaving their pet, and nearly one in three said they had shortened a trip specifically to get back to their animal sooner. Cat owners reported lower but still notable levels of concern, with 38 percent saying they worried about their cat's wellbeing while away.
This guilt is not trivial. It shapes real economic behaviour. Owners choose closer destinations so they can return quickly if something goes wrong. They avoid long-haul flights. They prefer self-catering accommodation over hotels because it feels more like the environment their pet is used to -- even when the pet is not coming along.
The Emotional Cost
The psychological burden goes both ways. Pets left in unfamiliar environments -- commercial boarding kennels, for instance -- can exhibit stress behaviours such as loss of appetite, excessive barking and withdrawal. Owners who are aware of this are even less likely to travel, creating a feedback loop of anxiety and avoidance.
The rise of in-home pet sitting, where a trusted sitter cares for the animal in the owner's own home, has been a direct response to this problem. Platforms like The Pet Sitter connect owners with vetted, local sitters who visit or stay in the pet's familiar surroundings, dramatically reducing stress on both sides of the equation.
The Booking Gap: Trips That Never Happen
Perhaps the most striking statistic in pet travel research is the volume of holidays that are simply never booked. Industry analysts refer to this as the "booking gap" -- the difference between the number of trips pet owners want to take and the number they actually take.
A 2025 survey by the European Travel Commission estimated that pet owners across the EU take an average of 1.4 fewer leisure trips per year compared with non-pet-owning households of similar income. Across hundreds of millions of pet-owning households, that adds up to billions of euros in lost tourism revenue annually.
The reasons behind the gap are practical rather than financial:
- No trusted care available. Owners who have had a bad experience with a kennel or an unreliable sitter become reluctant to try again.
- Cost of boarding. Commercial kennels in major cities can charge 40 to 70 euros per night, making a two-week holiday prohibitively expensive once pet care is added to the budget.
- Lack of flexibility. Many boarding facilities require drop-off and pick-up within narrow time windows, which clashes with flight schedules.
- Multi-pet households. Owners with two or more animals face compounded costs and logistical complexity.
When owners have access to affordable, flexible and trustworthy in-home sitting, the booking gap narrows. They travel more, they travel longer and they spend more at their destination. Solving the pet care problem is, in effect, an economic stimulus for the tourism industry.
The Rise of Pet-Friendly Accommodation
Hotels, holiday rentals and even airlines have noticed the trend. The supply of pet-friendly accommodation has expanded significantly over the past five years.
Hotels
Major chains including Marriott, Hilton and Accor now offer pet-friendly rooms in a growing number of properties. Some boutique hotels have gone further, providing dog beds, welcome treats and curated walking route maps. The premium charged for pet-friendly rooms -- typically 15 to 30 euros per night -- represents a meaningful new revenue stream.
Holiday Rentals
Platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo report that listings tagged as "pet-friendly" receive 20 to 35 percent more bookings than comparable non-pet-friendly listings in the same area. Property owners who once banned animals are reversing course, recognising that a no-pets policy now means turning away a large and growing segment of the market.
Airlines
Low-cost carriers in Europe and North America have introduced or expanded cabin pet policies. Some airlines now allow small dogs and cats in the cabin for a flat fee, removing one of the biggest logistical hurdles for pet owners who want to bring their animal along. Long-haul carriers are experimenting with dedicated pet compartments that offer climate control and monitoring.
Destinations Marketing to Pet Owners
Tourism boards in countries like Portugal, Croatia and New Zealand have launched campaigns specifically targeting pet-owning travellers. These campaigns highlight dog-friendly beaches, hiking trails and outdoor dining. The message is clear: bring your pet, spend your money here.
Pet Travel Anxiety: A Growing Field of Study
Veterinary behaviourists and animal welfare researchers have begun to study "pet travel anxiety" as a distinct phenomenon. This refers not to the pet's anxiety about travelling, but to the owner's anxiety about the pet's welfare during any period of separation.
Key findings include:
- Owners who use a familiar, trusted sitter report anxiety levels 60 percent lower than those using commercial boarding.
- The availability of real-time updates -- photos, videos, GPS walk tracking -- significantly reduces owner worry during trips.
- Owners who receive a detailed "report card" about their pet's day (meals, walks, mood) are more likely to book another trip within six months.
These insights are shaping the features that modern pet-sitting platforms offer. The Pet Sitter, for example, provides sitters with tools to send report cards complete with photos, activity logs and GPS-tracked walk routes. This transparency is not a gimmick -- it is a direct response to the psychological research on separation anxiety among owners.
How Reliable Pet Sitting Enables More Travel
The connection between trusted pet care and travel frequency is well documented. When owners find a sitter they trust, their travel behaviour changes in measurable ways:
- Trip frequency increases. Owners with a regular sitter take an average of 0.8 more leisure trips per year.
- Trip duration extends. The average holiday length for owners with trusted care is 7.2 days, compared with 4.9 days for those without.
- Destination range widens. Owners are more willing to fly long-haul or visit destinations with limited pet infrastructure when they know their animal is in good hands at home.
- Last-minute bookings rise. The spontaneity that non-pet-owners take for granted becomes accessible again.
Platforms that offer vetted sitters, transparent pricing and in-home care are the critical enabler. The Pet Sitter's model -- where sitters pay a flat annual subscription and keep 100 percent of their earnings, with no commission deducted from bookings -- means that sitters are fairly compensated and owners pay reasonable rates. This economic alignment encourages long-term sitter-owner relationships, which in turn build the trust that makes travel possible.
The Pet Economy's Impact on Tourism
The broader "pet economy" is now valued at over 320 billion US dollars globally, and tourism is one of its fastest-growing segments. Pet-related travel spending includes:
- Pet-friendly accommodation premiums (estimated at 4.2 billion US dollars annually in Europe alone)
- Pet transport services (airline fees, pet taxis, ferry surcharges)
- Pet sitting and boarding (the largest single category, projected to reach 12 billion US dollars in Europe by 2028)
- Pet travel accessories (carriers, travel bowls, car harnesses, anxiety wraps)
- Veterinary travel certificates (required for cross-border travel within the EU and beyond)
Tourism authorities that ignore the pet factor are leaving money on the table. Destinations that embrace it -- by investing in dog-friendly infrastructure, relaxing pet access rules in public spaces and partnering with pet care platforms -- stand to capture a disproportionate share of this growing market.
Trends Shaping the Future
Several trends are likely to accelerate the intersection of pet ownership and travel over the coming years.
Remote Work and Longer Stays
The shift toward remote and hybrid work means more people can travel for extended periods. A three-week "workation" is feasible in a way that it was not a decade ago. But a three-week absence is also harder on a pet than a long weekend. Demand for reliable, multi-week pet sitting is rising fast.
Millennial and Gen Z Pet Owners
Younger generations are the fastest-growing segment of pet owners, and they are also the most travel-oriented. They expect digital-first solutions: online booking, real-time updates, transparent reviews and cashless payments. Platforms that deliver this experience will capture their loyalty.
Insurance and Wellness Integration
Pet insurance providers are beginning to bundle travel-related coverage -- covering emergency vet visits for boarded pets, trip cancellation due to pet illness and even liability cover for pets travelling with their owners. This integration lowers the financial risk of travel for pet owners and is likely to increase trip frequency.
Sustainability and Local Travel
The growing emphasis on sustainable travel dovetails with pet ownership. Owners who choose to holiday closer to home -- by train rather than plane, in rural areas rather than cities -- often find it easier to bring their pet along or arrange local sitting. This trend benefits regional tourism economies and reduces the environmental footprint of travel.
How The Pet Sitter Gives Owners Peace of Mind
At its core, the challenge is trust. Owners need to believe that their pet will be safe, comfortable and happy in their absence. Building that trust requires several things:
- Vetted sitters. Every sitter on The Pet Sitter undergoes an AI-assisted vetting process that reviews their profile, experience and references before approval.
- Transparent reviews. Genuine reviews from other pet owners help new users choose with confidence.
- In-home care. Pets stay in their own environment, reducing stress and behavioural disruption.
- Real-time updates. Report cards with photos, activity logs and GPS-tracked walks keep owners informed throughout their trip.
- Fair pricing. With no commission on bookings, sitters earn what they deserve and owners pay a fair rate -- no hidden fees inflating the cost.
- Cancellation protection. Clear cancellation policies (flexible, moderate or strict) give both parties certainty.
When all of these elements come together, the result is simple: owners travel more. They book longer trips. They explore further. And they come home to a pet that has been well cared for in familiar surroundings.
FAQ
How many trips do pet owners skip because of their pets?
Research suggests that pet owners in Europe take an average of 1.4 fewer leisure trips per year compared with non-pet-owning households of similar income. The primary reasons are a lack of trusted pet care, the cost of boarding and logistical difficulties with arranging drop-off and pick-up times.
Is in-home pet sitting better for my pet than a boarding kennel?
For most pets, yes. Animals are creatures of habit, and staying in their own home reduces the stress associated with unfamiliar environments, new smells and proximity to unknown animals. In-home sitting also allows the pet to maintain its regular routine -- same feeding times, same walks, same sleeping spot.
How does The Pet Sitter help me travel with confidence?
The Pet Sitter connects you with vetted, local sitters who care for your pet in your own home. Sitters can send report cards with photos, activity logs and GPS-tracked walk routes so you know exactly how your pet is doing. There are no commission fees on bookings, which keeps costs transparent and fair for both owners and sitters.
Are pet-friendly travel destinations becoming more common?
Yes. Tourism boards in countries like Portugal, Croatia, New Zealand and across Scandinavia are actively marketing to pet-owning travellers. Hotels, holiday rentals and airlines are all expanding their pet-friendly offerings in response to growing demand. The trend shows no sign of slowing down.