By Samantha Tan, on March 22, 2022
Expedia’s 2021 Vacation Deprivation Study unveils versatile work and work-from-home preparations have made it harder for Singaporeans to take a whole break from work when on go away
Figure 1. Vacation deprivation sentiments across the globe: share of respondents who expressed emotions of trip deprivation from 2018 to 2021
Following shut to 2 years of border closures, journey sentiments amongst Singapore’s workforce have improved for the reason that introduction of journey lanes within the second half of 2021. According to Expedia’s 2021 Vacation Deprivation® Study, trip deprivation sentiments in Singapore have nearly returned to pre-COVID ranges, with 69% of Singaporeans surveyed feeling vacation-deprived, down from 71% in 2020, dropping Singapore from being essentially the most vacation-deprived nation on the earth in 2020 to 3rd place in 2021. Apart from itemizing among the many high 10 most vacation-deprived markets on the earth, the research uncovered that Singaporeans proceed to search out it laborious to unplug from work when on go away, highlighting a have to set clear boundaries for them to get pleasure from an actual trip with out having to consider work.
The 2021 version of Expedia’s Vacation Deprivation® Study polled 14,500 adults aged 18 and above throughout 16 nations, together with 500 from Singapore, in December 2021, to grasp the holiday deprivation and travel-related sentiments of shoppers across the globe.
FEELING BURNT OUT, SINGAPOREANS STRUGGLE TO UNPLUG FROM WORK
When requested concerning the affect of the COVID-19 pandemic stress on their lives, greater than 4 in 5 (82%) of working adults stated that they felt burnt out in 2021. The pandemic stress scenario was much more extreme amongst respondents holding first responder roles, with 9 in 10 (90%) figuring out with emotions of burnt out previously yr.
These sentiments may have been compounded by the next elements:
- Singaporeans typically took fewer trip days in 2021 – solely 12 days in comparison with 15 days the yr earlier than.
- Majority didn’t make use of trip days to relaxation – 66% spent their trip time on their aspect hustles, 57% introduced their work laptops throughout their trip and 51% joined video convention calls incessantly whereas on trip.
- Flexible work and work-from-home preparations made unplugging from work tougher than earlier than – near 4 in 5 working adults (78%) felt that such work preparations have made it harder for them to disconnect from work when on trip.
VACATIONS MORE VALUED VERSUS PRE-PANDEMIC TIMES; MAJORITY FEEL AS RESTED WITHOUT TRAVELLING
Despite majority expressing challenges in unplugging from work whereas on paid time without work, 94% stated that they worth trip time greater than ever earlier than. Most respondents additionally concurred that taking common holidays is necessary for basic well being and well-being (97%), helps them to have a extra constructive perspective (92%) and causes them to really feel extra motivated at work (90%).
Additionally, the bulk (84%) additionally felt simply as rested and recharged after they spend their trip time inside the metropolis state with out travelling. This reveals that the idea of taking a trip might be evolving throughout the board, with staycations, native experiences or just staying at dwelling with their family members being a viable different to worldwide journey throughout paid time without work.
NEED FOR CLEAR BOUNDARIES TO HELP SINGAPOREANS TAKE MEANINGFUL BREAKS FROM WORK
With the significance of holidays to assist Singaporeans overcome feeling burnt-out whereas bettering their general well-being, there’s a want for working adults to set clear boundaries to take significant breaks away from work. While 73% of Singaporeans shared that their employers have been supportive of them taking trip time, eight in 10 (80%) at present go away their cellular numbers of their out-of-office emails or give them to their co-workers or shoppers after they go on trip. Additionally, 54% felt responsible about having their co-workers cowl their work whereas on trip, and 48% felt the necessity to apologise for taking day out for deliberate holidays.
This factors to the event of a doubtlessly unhealthy “vacation culture” the place Singaporeans don’t get the whole time-off that they need to refresh and recharge themselves throughout a vacation.
THOROUGH PLANNING KEY TO SUCCESSFUL AND STRESS-FREE HOLIDAYS
When requested about their trip and journey plans for 2022, just one in 4 (24%) Singaporeans stated that they’ve booked their trip days, whereas over half (51%) stated they plan to make their journey plans within the later a part of the yr. Now that Singapore has established greater than 30 Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs) to worldwide locations, Expedia recommends travellers in Singapore take time of their journey planning to benefit from their days off.
“The insights from our 2021 study unveiled some critical pain-points, that our workforce is at a brink of experiencing a burnout, with more working adults struggling to unplug from work despite taking regular vacations. Holidays, long or short, is a great time to rest, recharge and rejuvenate. While the pandemic has taken its toll on many of us mentally, emotionally, and physically, Expedia hopes 2022 will be the year that travellers take that big leap to detach from work and prioritise the things that really matters to each of us – our family and well-being,” stated Lavinia Rajaram, Asia Head of Public Relations, Expedia Group.
More insights accessible right here: Expedia 2021 Vacation Deprivation Report_- Singapore
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Notes to Editor:
Traveller wellbeing is our precedence. Expedia understands how the worldwide affect of the coronavirus pandemic continues to have an effect on vacationers in every single place, in addition to the significance of abiding by authorities restrictions and training social distancing. Travellers can go to the Expedia COVID-19 journey useful resource web page for data to make knowledgeable journey selections.
About the Vacation Deprivation Study
Expedia first commissioned the Vacation Deprivation Study in 2000 to look at the work-life steadiness of Americans. The annual research is at present in its 22nd yr and was performed on-line amongst 14,500 respondents throughout North and South America, Europe and Asia Pacific. Conducted from 14 to 30 December 2021 on behalf of Expedia by Northstar Research Partners, a worldwide strategic analysis agency, responses have been gathered utilizing an amalgamated group of best-in-class panels. Looking on the margin of error for the worldwide common, a 1% distinction is statistically important at 90% confidence.