Mum, dad and the kids aren’t the only ones enjoying family holidays this summer, with recent data showing almost one in three families are choosing to holiday with their ‘fur baby’ in tow.
Travel company Ingenia Holidays has found, on average, 30 per cent of guests staying at its Cairns holiday resort are bringing a pet along for the ride – a 12 per cent increase on last year’s figures.
Ingenia Holidays Chief Operating Officer Nikki Fisher said while the demand for pet-friendly accommodation was strong state-wide, the tropical north appeared to be a favourite with furry travellers.
“Since making Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut pet-friendly in 2018 we’ve seen a massive uptake in families staying with their pets, and in the high season we can welcome up to 85 pets per month,” Ms Fisher said.
“The feedback so far has been excellent – those staying with pets love that the whole family is welcome, and even guests without pets have commented on the relaxed atmosphere a pet-friendly resort can provide.”
Creating the perfect pet-friendly destination is not without careful planning and management, and Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut Resort Manager Richard Yazbek said more goes into it than just saying ‘pets are welcome here’.
“We have put a lot of work into catering to travellers with pets, without compromising on our resort’s high-quality guest experience,” Mr Yazbek said.
“The resort has designated pet-friendly areas, a state-of-the-art dog agility park for pets to let off steam, and has even partnered with a local doggie day care provider to offer guests flat-rate pet sitting for when they want to take day trips without their pets.”
With the RSPCA reporting almost two thirds of Australian households own a pet, it’s no wonder the travel industry is evolving to meet the demands of today’s modern family.
Mr Yazbek said, “At the end of the day, we want our guests to be able to create special holiday memories with the whole family – and this often includes a much-loved pet.
“Whether you always travel with your pet, or if you’ve been curious about a pet-friendly holiday, now is definitely the time to give it a go!”
To help guests spoil their four-legged family members, Ingenia Holidays has declared that all parks and resorts will be celebrating “Furbruary” – check in with your dog during the month of February and receive a bounty of free doggy treats.
To secure your holiday at an Ingenia Holiday park around Australia, visit www.ingeniaholidays.com.au or phone their bookings team on 1800 431 998.
