With 1 in 5 pet owners flying with their furry companions at least three times a year, InsureMyTrip has analysed global data to uncover the best and worst cities for pet tourism.
The study scores cities on pet-friendly accommodation, veterinary care, green space access, and pet travel requirements, giving pet parents a clear idea of where to go.
A few highlights from the study reveal:
– Ottawa, Canada is named the best city for traveling with your pet thanks to its abundance of pet-friendly activities and green spaces
– Abu Dhabi, UAE is ranked the least favorable destination for traveling with pets
A recent report showed 22 percent of both cat and dog owners reported taking their animals on at least three flights over the past year. Traveling with pets can be a dream, or a logistical nightmare, depending on where you go.
That’s why leading travel insurance comparison site InsureMyTrip crunched the numbers to determine the best global destinations for pet tourism. To achieve this, we standardized the latest available data for each city in categories like pet-friendly accommodations, availability of green spaces, veterinary care and hospital ratings, and pet travel requirements to help travelers make informed choices.
Topping the list as the best city to travel with your pet is Ottawa, Canada with an overall score of 6.87/10.
The Canadian capital stands out with an impressive 51 pet-friendly activities, highly rated pet hospitals (4.55/5), and a simplified digital pet travel endorsement (meaning less paperwork for you!). It’s no wonder Ottawa is considered the ultimate destination for travelers and their furry companions.
Rome follows in second place with an overall score of 6.21/10. While it might be known for its rich history, its pet-friendliness is a mixed bag. While it boasts 3,270 pet-friendly hotels and highly rated pet hospitals (4.48/5), the city’s requirement for a traditional inked endorsement for pet travel can add extra hassle for travelers.
Vienna, Austria and Dodoma, Tanzania complete the top four cities for pet-friendly travel scoring 5.67 and 5.61 respectively.
At the bottom of our ranking sits Abu Dhabi, UAE scoring 3.1 overall. Despite its modern infrastructure, pet tourism is almost non-existent, with minimal pet-friendly activities (2) and accommodations (198). The extreme summer heat (98.6°F) also makes outdoor excursions challenging for pets.
Colombo, Sri Lanka follows closely behind, scoring 3.19/10. Limited pet-friendly activities and accommodations, coupled with restrictive travel regulations, make it one of the least favorable cities for pet owners.
Ljubljana, Slovenia completes the bottom three cities for pet-friendly travel. Despite being a beautiful city, it offers very few pet-friendly services.
Even in the best destinations, unexpected hiccups can happen. Whether it’s a sudden illness, a travel delay, or a lost pet passport, more providers are including pet benefits in their policies to give you peace of mind on your adventures.
For the full study, click here
“Sara Boisvert, Director of Marketing at InsureMyTrip commented on the findings:
“Traveling with pets is more popular than ever, but not every destination makes it easy. Our goal with this study was to help pet owners plan smarter, safer, and more enjoyable trips with their furry companions by identifying the cities that go the extra mile to welcome pets.”
