India World’s 4th Most Vacation Deprived Country 

Mumbai: India has been ranked as the fourth most vacation deprived country globally, as 63 percent take fewer days of the vacations that they get, according to to a report.

"After Spain (68 percent), UAE (68 percent), Malaysia (67 percent) and South Korea (64 percent), India is ranked as the fourth most vacation deprived country globally," according to Expedia 'Vacation Deprivation report 2016'.

The report revealed that 40 percent Indians don't use all vacation days as work schedule does not allow for vacation or don't have enough staff to cover and 32 percent are not able to take vacation days due to personal schedule.

"Vacations play a critical role in creating work-life balance as it re-energises people to be more focused at work (95 percent of Indians agree in the survey)," said Manmeet Ahluwalia, Marketing Head, Expedia, India.

ExpediaAfter Spain (68 percent), UAE (68 percent), Malaysia (67 percent) and South Korea (64 percent), India is ranked as the fourth most vacation deprived country globally

The report was conducted on behalf of Expedia by Northstar, a globally integrated strategic insights consulting firm online from September 12-29, 2016, across North America, Europe, South America, and Asia Pacific.

It was conducted among 9,424 employed adults aged 18 years of age and older across 28 countries.

The report also found that 27 percent Indians did not take vacations as they found it difficult to coordinate time with their spouse or family and 32 percent felt personal schedule did not allow them.

About 21 percent Indians also felt that important work decisions will be made when they are on vacations and 21 percent said it will be perceived positively on their employers as the reasons for not taking any leave.

Ahluwalia said, 47 percent of Indians are ready to give up social media and television while 30 percent would give up Internet and 27 percent can give up contact with their besties for a week, all for one additional day of vacation.

About 41 percent Indians would like to mix one long holiday and several short vacations in a year and 86 percent would take a vacation during the holiday season that was not tied to family obligations

Most Indians are evolving, from a tourist to a traveller as 77 percent said they find happiness by exploring somewhere new, 55 percent said they eat what they want, meeting new people (54 percent) and getting a lot of likes or comments on social media posts, it said.

Indians mostly prefer travelling with one or two others (77 percent) and their favourite travel buddies are spouse (73 percent), children (59 percent) and friends (53 percent), said the report.

About 41 percent Indians would like to mix one long holiday and several short vacations in a year and 86 percent would take a vacation during the holiday season that was not tied to family obligations, it added.

PTI