Pet Travel Services Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Pet Type (Dogs, Cats), By Travel Type (Domestic, International), By Application Type, By Booking Type, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2024 - 2030

Pet Travel Services Market Size & Trends

The global pet travel services market size is estimated at USD 1.96 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.69% from 2024 to 2030. Market growth is propelled by factors such as increasing pet adoption rates & humanization trends, rising number of tourists traveling along with their companion animals, pet-friendly traveling services & hotels, and increased enthusiasm among people for traveling after the pandemic lockdowns. For instance, in 2021 Condorferries, a passenger & freight ferry service operator in the UK, reported that over 53% of global pet owners take their furry animals for holiday travels and 37% of families are now accompanied by four-legged pets for a complete family trip. This rate has significantly increased by 19% over the last decade.

The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly increased pet adoption rates globally, coupled with people spending more time indoors along with their new companions. For instance, in the UK, 3.2 million households have had a new pet since the pandemic, with the country now holding 17 million pet-owning households. Around 59% of the entire UK population owns at least 1 companion animal, and over 67% consider pets as their family member. This significant shift in the pet humanization trend has involved such beloved animals in travel trips as vacation buddies. However, the pandemic and nationwide lockdowns took people far away from pet-friendly traveling abilities owing to restricted services. Therefore, the market was negatively impacted in 2020 and early 2021. However, it quickly recovered after the ease of restrictions.

Post-pandemic has freed travel enthusiasts from the shackles of the locked indoors. This has increased both domestic and international travel counts with extremely positive growth. As per the survey results conducted by industry leaders, the upcoming years will show overwhelming opportunities for pet-friendly travel plans. For instance, as per Condorferries, over 50% of pet owners across the globe intend to take their companion animals for travel trips in the current year (2023). The source also suggests that nearly 38% of surveyed pet parents reported that they would never travel without their furry friends. Similarly, according to the American Pet Products Association, 37% of Americans travel with their pets yearly. These factors are greatly contributing to the market growth.

Market Concentration & Characteristics

Pet owners seek all-inclusive services covering various aspects of pet travel, from transportation to accommodations. Key players are enhancing their offerings by providing end-to-end solutions, including pet relocation, staycations, and other specialized services, ensuring a seamless and stress-free experience for pet owners.

Pet traveling businesses have expanded their travel services to several new places to meet growing demands and need for smooth pet transportation. The related services, such as dog staycations and pet-friendly hotels, parks, cafes, and other places, have simultaneously boosted willingness of people to travel with their pets with the least concerns. After the pandemic, especially in 2022, bookings for pet travel have increased by more than a third compared to pre-pandemic period. Key players, such as Pet Relocation, are enhancing their strategic measures to overcome challenges concerning airlines and ground pet transportation where COVID-19 restrictions remain.

Pet Type Insights

Based on pet type, the dogs segment dominated the market with the largest revenue share of over 59% in 2023. Numerous breeds of dogs are considered the best travel buddies as they are socially active, energetic, and are not stressed about spending long hours of journey. Most dogs adapt easily to their owner’s lifestyle patterns and are conveniently preferred for traveling. Globally, dogs are known as most popular traveling pets, with 27% of dog owners demanding more dog-friendly services. According to a survey study conducted among U.S. pet parents, about 61% of dogs enjoy traveling with their owners. In addition, large population of dogs owned as a pet is another factor contributing to the largest share.

The cats segment is expected to grow at fastest CAGR of 10.4% over the forecast period. Cat is also known as the second most popular pet worldwide, with over 220 million cats owned in households. According to the American Pet Products Association 2022, around 45.3 million U.S. households own cats, registering as second largest pet population in the country. However, there are constant shifts in pet ownership in other regions across the globe. For instance, as per the European Pet Food Organization (FEDIAF 2022), around 110 million cats are owned throughout EU countries, followed by 90 million dogs. Therefore, rising cat adoption rates owing to their calm nature have also increased their traveling rates accompanying pet owners.

Travel Type Insights

Based on travel type, the domestic segment dominated the market in 2023. Widely growing pet ownership rates in developed countries have directly or indirectly increased willingness of people to spend more money and time on their pet’s wellness & happiness. According to American Pet Product Association, pet expenditure in the U.S. has increased from USD 90.5 billion in 2018 to USD 123.6 billion in 2021. Rising grooming services, kennel boardings, and veterinary visits have increased a domestic transportation of pets within local places.

As pets are often not allowed inside public transport facilities, now specially organized pet taxi services are in place to aid requirement of daily travels of companion animals. These factors are attributed to highest segment share. On the other side, international travel type segment is expected to grow at fastest CAGR of 10.3% over forecast period. This is due to increasing number of foreign travelers accompanied by pets in recent years. Around 2 million companion animals in the U.S. are boarding commercial flights yearly.

Application Type Insights

Based on application type, the transportation segment dominated the market in 2023, and is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR of 9.8% over the forecast period. This is due to increasing demand among pet parents for safer, cost-effective, and more convenient commute facilities to pick up and drop off their furry beings. Routine vet visits, grooming, boarding, sitting, and other vet care services have raised daily pet travel needs in the present, as most owners are often carried up with personal work.

The rising admission rates in pet training schools have unveiled opportunities for day-to-day travel options for animals with specific cab or bus facilities. These factors have increased pet taxi services, which are expected to propel the segment's growth further. On the other hand, pet relocation services are growing significantly due to the increasing number of providers in developed and developing countries. Numerous travel agencies in the market that specialized in technical documentation processes before relocating have boosted the segment's growth.

Booking Type Insights

Travelers across the globe are willing to pay more money for their leisure trips and family vacation plans accompanied by their beloved companion animals. After the COVID-19 pandemic hit the tourism sector hard in the past two years, the industry is bouncing back at fastest growth recovery rate. According to the World Economic Forum, international tourism has increased by 182% in just first three months of 2022 compared to the previous year. Travel agencies and operators have stated the massive increase in online tour bookings reflects people's high interest in relaxed traveling plans post-pandemic.

Therefore, pet travel services have registered a surge in online bookings in late 2021 & 2022. Moreover, bookings with pet transports have increased by more than a third compared to pre-pandemic period. Pet-friendly hotels, cafes, and other properties have significantly increased their revenue by 30% after the pandemic with 27% more bookings as per a Freestyle blog article. These factors are attributed to largest revenue share of the online & phone booking segment in 2022, with fastest growth rate over the forecast period.

Regional Insights

North America dominated the market with a market share of over 37% in 2023. This can be attributed to increasing pet expenditure and a large pet population. In addition, numerous advanced and convenient pet travel services offered by numerous regional players are further propelling the market's growth. For instance, the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA) has over 50 pet travel providers registered in the U.S. & Canada.

Asia Pacific is anticipated to grow at the fastest CAGR of over 11.4% during the forecast period. Rising interest among people in adopting companion animals and growing disposable income expands pet care expenditure across Asia Pacific. In addition, rapid advancement in tourism in countries such as China, India, South Korea, and Japan is expected to propel market growth. Moreover, growing pet taxi services in developing countries create more opportunities.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The market is highly competitive and fragmented with a large number of players. Some major companies, such as Airpets International and Pets Abroad UK have been transporting pets for over 30 to 50 years with several ranges of domestic and international travel plans. Aeropets Worldwide has relocated 38,620 pets from over 100 countries since its establishment in 2003.

Recent Developments

• In June 2022, Hilton and Mars Petcare extended their collaboration across Hilton's seven pet-friendly brands to meet the changing requirements of travelers accompanied by cats and dogs.

• In APRIL 2022, Avvinue, positioning itself as sole self-service platform for booking pet travel, unveiled its beta launch on National Pet Day.

Pet Travel Services Market Report Scope

Global Pet Travel Services Market Report Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional & country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2018 to 2030. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global pet travel services market report based on pet type, travel type, application type, booking type, and region:

• Pet Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Dogs

  • Cats

  • Others

• Travel Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Domestic

  • International

• Application Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Transportation

  • Relocation

• Booking Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Online & Phone Bookings

  • Offline Bookings

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • U.K.

    • Germany

    • France

    • Italy

    • Spain

    • Rest of Europe

  • Asia Pacific

    • Japan

    • China

    • India

    • Australia

    • South Korea

    • Rest of APAC

  • Latin America

    • Brazil

    • Mexico

    • Argentina

    • Rest of LATAM

  • Middle East & Africa

    • South Africa

    • Saudi Arabia

    • Rest of MEA