Animal psychotherapist: The potential impacts of animal-based tourism on mental health

Tourism can potentially supplement mainstream mental healthcare. Despite extensive attention to the positive psychological outcomes of tourism activities, few investigations have concerned how animal-based tourism may influence diverse aspects of mental health. This article seeks to fill this gap by proposing a possible mechanism to clarify the impact of this type of tourism. Three animal-related factors contributing to mental health are explored: animal observation, human–animal interaction, and human–animal relationship development. Moderating factors, including animal species types, activity types, and the nature of human–animal relationships, are also identified. Findings expand the understanding of how animal-based tourism can benefit mental health.