Study Finds More Travelers Ditch Work During Vacay

You may be good at using up all your vacation days, but how good are you at actually staying completely unplugged from work during those vacation days? According to a new study from Longwoods International, more American travelers and workers are drawing a clear line between work and play, leaving the office fully behind while on vacation.

The study, which looked more broadly at post-pandemic travel, found two-thirds of travelers attempt to create a better work-life balance, and, for more than 50 percent of respondents, that means doing less work on their leisure trips than they might’ve in years past.

Looking at upcoming travel in general, the survey, conducted in September 2022 and including 1,000 U.S. adults, found only 17 percent of travelers believe COVID-19 will impact their travel over the next six months. This is the lowest percentage since March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic began. More travelers, instead, feel gas prices will impact how they travel in the next six months, measuring in at 23 percent.

Amir Eylon, president and CEO, Longwoods International, said, “With the stress of the pandemic waning, we are seeing a new normal for travelers, one that values leisure travel as a break and escape from the work world. And we know from many of our previous surveys during the past three years that being with family and friends is a key motivator of leisure travel planning and decisions.”