Travelingwithpetshasemergedasanewlifestyletrend.Creativeactivitiessuchascharterflightsforpettravel,pet-friendlyflights,andtakingpetstomuseumsandexhibitionsarebecomingincreasinglycommon.Reportsindicatethatasearlyas20yearsago,Guangzhoubeganexperimentingwithpettraveltours.Today,manyhotels,inns,shoppingmalls,andparksofferpet-friendlyservices,welcomingpetsontrips.
Travelingwithpetsbecomesarisingconsumerhotspot
Withthecontinuedgrowthofthepeteconomy,thenumberoftravelerstakingpetswiththemisrising.InearlyJune,thefirstdomesticcharterflightforpetsdepartedfromShanghaiPudongInternationalAirport,with20petdogsandtheirownersflyingtogethertoThailand.
Inadditiontocharterflights,airlinesareincreasinglyofferingpettravelservices.Forexample,in2022,HainanAirlinesintroducedits"petcabin"service,allowingpassengerstobringpetsintothecabin,includingdomesticateddogsandcatsthatmeettheairline’sregulations.Currently,severalairlinesincludingAirChina,ChinaEastern,ChinaSouthern,andHainanAirlinesofferservicesforpettransportation.
Accordingtothe"2023-2024ChinaPetIndustryWhitePaper(ConsumerReport)",themarketforpetconsumptioninurbanChinareached279.3billionyuanin2023.Pettravelhasbecomeanewconsumerhotspot,drivingthepeteconomytonewheights.Theemergenceof"pettraveltours"reflectsthistrend.
Fromtheperspectiveofthoseworkinginthepettravelindustry,developingpettraveltoursisaninnovationamidstdecliningprofitsintraditionaltourism.However,therearestillmanylimitationsandchallenges.Iftouristdestinations,hotels,restaurants,andotherrelatedindustriescanintroducefacilitiesandservicessuitableforpets,itcouldcreateanewindustrychain,boostinglocaltourismrevenue.
Guangzhoupioneeredpettraveltours20yearsago
InGuangzhou,travelingwithpetsisnotparticularlynew.AsearlyasNovember2004,atravelagencyinGuangzhoupioneered"pettraveltours",allowingownersandtheirpetstoenjoyapleasantoutdoorexperienceonweekends.Atthattime,adaytourcost68yuanperperson,withpetsallowedfreeofcharge.Apetdoctorwasevenprovidedonthedayoftheevent.
Currently,pettraveltoursinGuangzhoutypicallylastbetweenoneandthreedaysandaremostlyshorttrips.Onashortvideosharingplatform,themostpopularone-daypettraveltourbybuscostsabout100yuanforadultsand50yuanforpets.
Moreover,manyparksandscenicspotsinGuangzhouofferpet-friendlyservices.ParkssuchasLuhuLakePark,ErshaIslandChuanqiPark,TianheWetlandPark,LinjiangLinerPark,YoumaMountainForestParkinHuangpuDistrict,andJingxiEcologicalParkinBaiyunDistrictarepopularamongpetloversfortheirpet-friendlyamenities.
中国：携宠物出游成新趋势
携宠出游已成为一种新兴的生活方式。宠物旅行团包机出境游、宠物航班、带宠物逛博物馆看展等创新性活动尝试层出不穷。记者了解到，早在20年前，广州就已经开始宠物旅游团的尝试，至今更是有不少酒店民宿、商场、公园提供宠物友好服务，欢迎携宠出游。
携宠游成新兴消费热点
7月27日晚，上海博物馆人民广场馆迎来首场博物馆奇“喵”夜活动，观众携带宠物猫一起看“古埃及文明大展”，这在全球综合类博物馆中开创先河。接下来的每周六晚，上博还将举行9场博物馆奇“喵”夜。
随着宠物经济的持续发展，携宠出行的旅客日益增多。6月初，国内首架宠物出境包机从上海浦东国际机场出发，20只宠物狗和主人一同进入飞机客舱，前往泰国。
除了宠物包机服务，各家航空公司也针对性地增加了携宠乘机服务。据了解，2022年，海南航空率先推出“宠物客舱”关爱服务，允许乘客携带宠物一起进入客舱，接收符合规定的家庭驯养狗、猫作为宠物运输对象。目前，国航、东航、南航、海航等多家航空公司都提供小动物托运服务。
《2023-2024年中国宠物行业白皮书（消费报告）》显示，2023年中国城镇宠物（犬猫）消费市场规模已达到2793亿元人民币，其中携宠游作为新兴消费热点，正引领宠物经济向更高层次发展，“宠物旅游团”应运而生。
20年前广州就已开宠物旅游团先河
其实，在广州，带着宠物旅行不算特别新鲜的事情。早在2004年11月，广州就有一家旅行社首创了“宠物旅游团”，让主人与宠物在周末尽情享受舒心的户外活动。当时一天游行程收费为68元每人，只针对游客收费，小狗属于免费携带，在活动当天还特配了宠物医生。
不仅如此，广州不少公园景点也能提供宠物友好服务。麓湖公园、二沙岛传祺公园、天河区大观湿地公园、临江带状公园、黄埔区油麻山森林公园、白云区京溪生态公园等都是爱宠人士眼中的宠物友好公园。