Towards a pet-friendly tourism in Kerala

My retired neighbours in Kerala purchased a Shih Tzu puppy, seeking companionship and to ward off loneliness. However, they quickly realized that this particular breed requires special care.

"I had to spend Rs 2,500 on one grooming session and fur trimming, which requires expert skill. That’s what I usually spend on my haircuts for an entire year," one said. Despite the challenges, the couple became so deeply attached to the dog that they have no regrets about bringing it into their lives.

Global pet boom 
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, pet ownership has increased globally. 

According to data compiled by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the first quarter of the twenty-first century witnessed a sharp rise in the number of pet owners.

The number of dog-owning households in the US increased from 31.3 million in 1996 to 59.8 million in 2024, while cat-owning households grew from 27 million to 42.1 million during the same period.

The number of households with pets in Europe continues to grow, with an estimated 166 million owning at least one pet in 2023.

“Cats and dogs are not just pets. These lovable, four-legged creatures have become our closest companions and confidantes, with more than half of American pet owners now reporting that they consider pets as much a part of their family as a human member,” says a National Geographic report published in November 2024.

Pet parenting is also on the rise in India, particularly after COVID-19, due to lockdown-induced loneliness and extended time spent indoors.

With the global rise in pet parenting, significant changes are required in the travel and tourism sector.

Pets and tourism
During a visit to Ponmudi, I met a Russian couple climbing uphill along the muddy roads in the upper sanatorium area, surrounded by lush, picturesque grasslands.

Southern Kerala's underrated hill station, located 3,600 feet above sea level, rarely attracts foreign tourists. However, their rarity didn’t make the middle-aged white couple the center of attention.

Accompanied by their beloved pet, the Russians slowly traversed the Ponmudi heights, drawing curious gazes from many Malayali tourists, especially children wandering nearby.

The couple had travelled all the way from St Petersburg to India with Zenya, a white female terrier—a breed uncommon in Kerala. Zenya hesitated as she inched forward, her head trembling slightly, seemingly unsettled by the strange tropical terrain.

My conversation with Zenya's owners began with a simple question born of curiosity: “How easy is it to travel with a pet to and within India?”

“Not easy, dear friend,” the man replied instantly in broken English, his Russian accent tinged with grief.

Unwelcoming to pets
The Russian couple were concerned about the weight restrictions for pet carriage on flights. Zenya could not travel in the cabin because her combined weight with the container slightly exceeded the stipulated 7-kilogram limit.

They expressed frustration with the numerous "No pets allowed" signs at hotels and tourist destinations they visited. Often, one of them had to stay outside with Zenya while the other dined indoors.

The couple found hotels and restaurants in Goa to be relatively pet-friendly, while Varkala in Kerala stood out as the only destination welcoming tourists travelling with pets.

Although they had heard about Kerala's extensive network of veterinary hospitals, they found it extremely difficult to locate one in case of an emergency.

As our conversation drew to a close, their faces broke into disapproving smiles when I requested to take a snapshot of Zenya.

“Zenya is not just a pet; she’s our daughter. We’re a family,” the woman said softly, her voice filled with quiet emotion.

Travelling with pets
A sharp rise in the number of pet owners has been reflected in air travel in spite of the inevitable issues of long-distance travel with pets.

A survey conducted in August 2024 revealed that 22 per cent of cat and dog owners in the United States travelled with their pets on at least three flights, marking an increase of nearly ten per cent compared to previous years.

In May this year, Akasa Air, a new entrant in the Indian airline industry, increased the weight limit for pet carriage from 7 to 10 kilograms following widespread demand from customers.

Zenya’s owners would have been happy to fly with this airline! 

A crucial area that requires intervention is ensuring improved access to hotels for people with pets, with necessary precautions in place.

While most US and European hotels allow pets, they enforce guidelines to ensure food safety and accommodate individuals with allergies or a fear of animals. Most hotels and restaurants have policies that include leashing, providing designated areas, or meeting other criteria.

Such an approach will foster a well-balanced, pet-friendly hospitality sector in Kerala, ensuring both hygiene and comfort for all tourists.

Another important requirement is to ensure that tourists travelling with pets have easy access to veterinary care in Kerala. The increasing number of private veterinarians, coupled with the extensive network of government facilities, provides a significant advantage. The tourism department could compile a comprehensive list of veterinary hospitals in Kerala and make it readily available at popular tourist destinations.

Eva's arrival
Kerala has recently made notable progress in the import of pets, marking an important step toward fostering a pet-friendly tourism scene.

Only six airports in India were previously equipped to handle the arrival of imported pets. However, establishing the Animal Quarantine Certification Service at Kochi International Airport has made Kerala a new hub for international pet travel.

 This milestone was achieved on November 28, when Eva, a cat from Doha, became the first pet to be officially received at a Kerala airport.

For a tourism-savvy state like Kerala, travel facilitation is only a part of the equation. 

 Tourists today are no longer limited to humans; pets have become part of the travel experience too. It is high time for the state tourism department to establish a comprehensive policy to promote pet-friendly tourism in Kerala. 
(Social anthropologist and novelist Thomas Sajan and US-trained neurologist Titto Idicula, based in Norway, write on politics, culture, economy, and medicine.)