Macao dog owners and their furry friends can now travel together on a private jet from the SAR to the Japanese city of Fukuoka, thanks to a new tour service being offered by Hong Kong tour operator, Life Travel.
Although no tour dates have been publicly confirmed, Life Travel announced in a Facebook post last Tuesday that the jaunt would cost an eyewatering HK$99,880 (US$12,836).
The package covers the roundtrip airfare for an individual and their dog, a one-time quarantine for the pet upon arrival in Japan, a pet tourism plan and the private jet fees that are charged in Macao and Japan.
Only 14 slots are available, with Life Travel stating that the first three people to register will be granted an additional pet photography service during their trip.
More details about the tour will be shared during an information sharing session that will take place at local pet store Pet Pet Macau’s branch on Avenida do Coronel Mesquita. The first session is scheduled today between 6 pm and 7:30 pm, while a second one is due to take place tomorrow between 4:00 pm and 5:30 pm.
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Established in 2015, Life Travel specialises in pet-related travel services to destinations such as Japan, the US, Canada and Europe. The company has organised over 120 private flights for pet owners in Hong Kong.
The company previously put together other luxury pet tours from Hong Kong to Japanese destinations such as Osaka, Okinawa, Tokyo, Hokkaido and Fukuoka.
The pet travel industry has grown significantly over the years, with Polaris Market Research forecasting the sector to grow globally from US$2 billion in 2023 to US$4.6 billion in 2032.
On the reasons behind the rapid development, the research firm stated that it has been spurred by factors such as the growing capacity of people to spend on their pets and ageing populations in developed countries that have resulted in more people seeking pets as companions.
