SEATTLE, Feb. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Following a year
where for many, every aspect of life – from work, school, daycare,
and even vacation – was spent under one roof, in 2021 people
worldwide are more determined than ever to use up all the vacation
days they've earned. According to the annual Vacation Deprivation
study from Expedia®, in 2021 Americans plan to take an extra week
(five days) of vacation. With this new "no days left behind"
mindset, Vacation Deprivation is well on its way to becoming a
thing of the past.
Americans are optimistic about travel in 2021 - report reveals many
plan to take an extra week of vacation this year.
Expedia first launched the annual study more than two decades
ago to illustrate the benefits of vacation and encourage working
adults to regularly unplug. In recent years, the benefits of
vacation are well-known and undisputed, yet Vacation Deprivation is
on the rise in most nations. This year's findings point to yet
another shift, one in which workers agree they will never take
their vacation days for granted again. In fact, many Americans are
optimistic about travel in 2021, with 36 percent planning to resume
taking regular vacations this year, and another third (32%) vowing
to take more vacations than usual to make up for lost time in
2020.
U.S. Vacation Deprivation at-a-glance
The study found that the U.S. reported the fewest number of
vacation days taken in 2020 out of the 16 countries surveyed.
Considering the impact of the pandemic on travel, feelings of
vacation deprivation were unsurprisingly higher than in years'
past, with 64 percent of U.S. respondents reporting they felt
vacation deprived, a three percent increase from 2020 and 11
percent increase compared to five years ago. The study also
found:
- Fewest Days Received, Most Days Left on the Table: Not
only did U.S. employees take the fewest vacation days (8) in 2020,
along with Thailand the U.S. also
received the fewest vacation days (13) when compared to
other countries surveyed.
- Time Between Vacations Has Grown: One in four (26%) U.S.
respondents noted they haven't taken a vacation in over a year,
compared to 16 percent in 2019.
- Using Vacation Time, but Not for Vacation: 47 percent
used at least one vacation day in 2020 to care for a sick family
member or in lieu of childcare.
- More Cancelled Trips: 42 percent cancelled one or more
trips last year due to COVID-19.
It's not all bad news, however. With Americans planning to take
13 vacation days this year, up from just 8 days taken in 2020,
work-life balance is bound to improve.
Queue the bucket lists
Though the pandemic put a damper on vacation plans, the study
results show that the desire for travel has not diminished. In
fact, 66 percent of people globally were inspired to create a
travel bucket list, and the longer the pandemic has waged on, the
longer bucket lists have become – 60 percent of respondents
said they continue to add to their lists.
Expedia's study also found that people are willing to put
more budget into their bucket list vacations in 2021 than
originally planned (61%). Whether it's trying a new activity,
seeking out a place untraveled, reuniting with loved ones separated
by distance (64 percent find vacation time more valuable when
spending quality time with family), or simply having time to
recharge (54 percent think having the time to relax and do nothing
is what makes them happiest on vacation), travelers want to make
the most of their time.
2021 is on track to be the year people take back their
days
As the hope for future travel in 2021 grows, Expedia is already
seeing an uptick in people searching for their next bucket list
location. For spring getaways, Expedia.com data shows that
Americans are searching for warm weather and beaches. These are the
destinations garnering the most interest for March and April
escapes:
- Top-searched*: Riviera Maya/Playa del
Carmen/Tulum; Cancun; Isla
Mujeres; Las Vegas, NV;
Orlando, FL; Puerto Vallarta/Riviera Nayarit, Los Cabos, Miami,
FL; Oahu, HI; Maui, HI
Meanwhile, the trending destinations for spring show similar
themes to destinations highlighted in the 2021 Trends Report,
primarily outdoorsy, small towns or off the beaten path:
- Trending**: North Georgia Mountains, GA; The Hamptons,
NY; Front Royal, VA; Southwest Colorado, CO; Hagerstown, MD; Upper Peninsula, MI; South Shore, MA; Boone, NC; Lake
Placid, NY; Dahlonega,
GA
"The longer the pandemic, the larger the vacation bucket list
and the greater the yearning to travel," said Shiv Singh, Senior
Vice President and General Manager of Brand Expedia. "Globally, 81%
of working adults are placing more value on vacation and 66% of
them have been inspired to create a bucket list. Whether it's
inspiring memorable experiences to add to the bucket list, sharing
helpful travel tips or spotlighting flexible deals, Expedia will be
here to help travelers discover new destinations - smartly and
confidently."
About the Vacation Deprivation Study
Expedia first commissioned Vacation Deprivation in 2000 to
examine the work-life balance of Americans. The annual study is
currently in its 21st year and was conducted online
among 9,200 respondents across North and South America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Commissioned from November 18-December 9, 2020 on behalf of Expedia
by Northstar Research Partners, a global strategic research firm,
responses were gathered using an amalgamated group of best-in-class
panels. Looking at the margin of error for the global average, a 1%
difference is statistically significant at 90% confidence.
About Expedia.com
Expedia.com® is one of the world's largest full-service travel
sites, helping millions of travelers per month easily plan and book
travel. Expedia.com (https://www.expedia.com/, 1-800-EXPEDIA) aims
to provide the latest technology and the widest selection of top
vacation destinations, affordable airfare, hotel deals, car
rentals, destination weddings, cruise deals and in-destination
activities, attractions, services and travel apps.
© 2021 Expedia, Inc., an Expedia Group company. All
rights reserved. Expedia and the Airplane logo are trademarks
of Expedia, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other
trademarks are the property of their respective owners. CST#
2029030-50.
Visit our web site https://www.expedia.com/ or use our
mobile app to book flights and hotels.
Notes to Editor:
Traveler wellbeing is our priority. Expedia understands how the
global impact of the coronavirus pandemic continues to affect
travelers everywhere, as well as the importance of abiding by
government restrictions and practicing social distancing. Travelers
can visit the Expedia COVID-19 travel resource page for
information to make informed travel decisions.
*Top destinations based on Expedia.com lodging searches as of
January 8, 2021 for stays taking
place in March and April 2021.
**Trending destinations are those showing the biggest lift in
lodging searches for March and April stays on Expedia.com compared
to the same travel window in 2020.
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