Recent research shows that 62% of British households share their home with at least one pet and as staycations become increasingly popular, holiday destinations are opening their doors to welcome more furry friends and cute critters than ever before.
Research, commissioned by The Valley Cornwall, focused on firsthand accounts from over 100 hospitality locations and found a significant rise in demand for pet-friendly staycations. 42% of holiday home owners were found to welcome all creatures great and small, with a recent rise in demand for small animals such as rabbits, hamsters and even parrots to join in the family-fun.
The Valley Cornwall, is a chic Cornish country retreat set in a hamlet near Falmouth and Truro, offering luxury holiday cottages to holiday makers from near and far. With luxury pet-friendly accommodation being in high demand, The Valley Cornwall commissioned the three-part study inspired by prime pet-friendly locations across the region, to gain more insight into some of the more peculiar pets visiting the coast.
When asked which animals British pet owners would take on holiday with them, 10% professed that their parrots take priority, 30% revealed that their rabbit would hop-ily come along, 40% confessed that their cats would make the purr-fect travel companion and unsurprisingly, 100% of those surveyed would pack up their pooches.
The research revealed that 80% of campsite owners reported a rise in requests for petite pets, such as rabbits and cats, and were more than happy to welcome them, as long as they were kept in contained areas. 100% of the hospitality businesses surveyed stated that they’d welcome any animal, depending on circumstances, if the guest made arrangements with the venue prior to booking.
Alex Horsfall, Owner of The Valley Cornwall, commented:
“We have had some very obscure pets come to stay with us, from cats on leads to a tortoise and even a snake! It is amazing to see so many new animals being requested by our guests to make their holiday the best it can be with the furry friends they love.”
Sandra, who owns two rabbits and an impressive ten cockatiel parrots, was surveyed in a local Devon pet shop and commented:
“I take all of my pets on holiday with me! If they can’t receive our love at home when we are on holiday, why not bring them along if where we are staying can accommodate them.”