Can owners afford not to be dog friendly?

Dog ownership booms

The phenomenon of the “lockdown dog” helped boost pet ownership to unprecedented levels, even for the famously dog-friendly UK. According to the PFMA, there are now over 13 million dogs in the UK, with the increase in ownership going from 23% to 34% of the population. Research also showed that a further 1.8 million people are planning to add a pet to their household. 

Dog owners still travel

Dog ownership, however, has not domesticated the human. Dog owners still want to travel, and with Statista research showing that boarding costs are the single biggest annual expense for dog owners in the UK, people are taking their pets away with them. Research from Visit Scotland shows that a third of pet owners base their holiday destination around how suitable it is for their pet, with as many declaring that they won’t travel without them, according to tourism stats from Hoo.  

An unmissable demographic

This surge in dog ownership and the reluctance of people to travel without their dogs makes being a dog-friendly place a huge and growing advantage in the self-catering sector. A recent Economic Impact Study Report stated that 30% of groups took a dog away with them, making this a demographic few can afford to ignore, especially in the UK since Brexit regulations have made going abroad with dogs more complex and expensive. 

Unlike other factors in booking, pet friendliness is, for many, a “deal breaker” that will instantly put them off a place. The conclusion, quite simply, is that if you’re not a dog-friendly place to stay, you’re missing out on growing demand and booking opportunities.