Leash on, passport ready: Koreans travel abroad with pets in tow

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An increasing number of Koreans are choosing to travel abroad with their companion animals, reflecting the growing trend of pet-friendly travel, industry officials said Tuesday.

Nearly 15 million people in Korea — close to a quarter of the population — live with companion animals.

The Korea Tourism Organization surveyed 2,144 pet owners last year and found that 70.1 percent had traveled with their pets, marking a 4.4 percent increase from 2023.

Three out of four pet owners said they are willing to travel with their pets in the future, according to the survey.

Mode Tour, the nation’s leading travel agency, unveiled its first pet-friendly international travel package at a recent pet fair, receiving an overwhelmingly positive response.

“At this fair, Mode Tour operated a large booth to promote its pet-friendly overseas travel brand, Mode N Pet, showcasing customized packages that allow travelers to explore Vietnam’s top destinations, Da Nang and Nha Trang, with their pets,” the company said.

Bound for Vietnam’s Da Nang and Nha Trang, the agency’s package includes dog-friendly travel itineraries and stays at a five-star hotel equipped with pet-friendly facilities and services, such as specialized furniture and amenities.

The booth also featured a photo zone with a miniature of Hoi An’s iconic basket boat, along with costumes and props, allowing visitors to capture photos of their pets in a local-themed setting.

Pet owners visit Mode Tour's booth introducing pet-friendly tour packages at pet fair Mega Zoo in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province, in this May photo. Courtesy of Mode Tour

Those who made on-site reservations were given a variety of benefits, including a 100,000 won discount, rental service of pet strollers, spa coupons and dog snacks.

Between Friday and Sunday, the booth received 220 on-site reservations and 350 million won ($252,197) in sales, the company said.

According to the aviation industry, the country’s five major airlines — Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, T’way Air, Jeju Air and Eastar Jet — transported 142,976 pets last year, setting a new record.

Several airlines have expanded pet-friendly air travel services amid the growing popularity of pet tourism and introduced pet-friendly mileage and promotions to cater to pet owners’ interest in international and domestic travel.

Korea’s pet industry is rapidly growing across food, fashion and lifestyle sectors, with an estimated market value of $6.2 billion in 2022. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, this figure is expected to reach $15.2 billion by 2032.