(Singapore, 28 April 2020) Staying home has become the new norm as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, wanderlust is really hitting home with Singaporeans, who are turning to reminiscing and sharing memories of past trips and experiences with friends and family as they bide their time before their next holiday adventure.

Diving deeper into the vacation deprivation sentiments of working adults across the world, Expedia’s 2019 Vacation Deprivation® Study revealed that the benefits of vacations, which include a positive impact on mental well-being as well as personal and professional relationships, can be experienced without the physical act of travelling.

Following a survey of 11,000 full-time workers across 19 markets, including 300 respondents in Singapore, the study found that close to seven in 10 Singaporeans (67%) felt deprived of vacations in 2019, up from 63% in 2018 and 57% in 2017.

EMBRACING THE VACATION STATE OF MIND

Vacations are widely known to have a positive impact on the mental welfare of individuals. 93% of working adults in Singapore indicated that taking regular vacations is important for general health and well-being. In addition, 88% feel rejuvenated and have a better outlook on life and 82% said they regularly take vacations to improve mental wellness. This psychological condition and positive effect is what we call a Vacation State of Mind.

COVID-19 and the accompanying travel restrictions have momentarily put a stopper to vacation plans of Singaporeans. An Expedia poll of 1,000 Singapore residents, conducted between 4 and 27 March 2020, showed that confidence in travel has been shaken by the outbreak, with over eight in 10 respondents expressing concern over their travel plans being affected if they booked a flight or a stayed at a hotel. Over half (50.4%) of the respondents had also indicated that their travel plans have already been changed or cancelled due to the pandemic.

While there is uncertainty about when Singaporeans can make their travel arrangements once again, the yearning for that much-needed getaway can be lessened with techniques that prolong the Vacation State of Mind. 79% of respondents said that they have tapped into their vacation memories to relax when they’re feeling stressed at work, 73% looked at photos from holidays on their phones when feeling overwhelmed, and 71% surrounded themselves with pictures, mementos and souvenirs from their vacation.

“In a world of ‘faster is better and bigger is best’, at some point the true meaning of ‘living’ can be lost. Fostering a Vacation State of Mind can provide relief from the growing feeling of vacation deprivation and encourage family connections and positive emotional responses through reliving fond memories created on previous holidays,” said Lavinia Rajaram, APAC Head of Communications, Expedia. “We believe in the power of travel in bringing people together, and we will do our best to provide great experiences for Singapore travellers when they are ready to start travelling again.”

These ‘vacation top-ups’ were even more common amongst millennial parents. Despite scrolling through social media feeds being routine in everyday life, millennial parents found that speaking with family and their children were just as effective at reconnecting with happy holiday memories

VACATIONS TOP-UPS ACROSS ASIA PACIFIC

Across the Asia Pacific region, the most effective vacation ‘top-up’ techniques were engaging in dialogue with others on vacation experiences. Speaking with family (52%), travel companions (50%), and friends (47%) clearly triggered happy memories.

Respondents from India (69%) and Thailand (57%) would listen to music from the vacation, while those from Malaysia (63%) and South Korea (56%) enjoyed browsing through printed photos from their trips, which served as mementos from their wonderful travel experiences.

5 EASY WAYS FOR SINGAPOREANS TO PROLONG THEIR VACATION STATE OF MIND

Summarising the findings from the study, here are 5 easy ways for Singaporeans to prolong their Vacation State of Mind while embracing the current stay home season:

Speaking with friends or family who you’ve been on trips with about your past vacations

TIP: Don’t just pick up the phone, get that face to face contact on a video call – some video call platforms even let you add fun filters or change your background to showcase your favourite holiday destination.

Look at pictures of vacations on social media

TIP: Not up for scrapbooking? There are many online services that can take your holiday photos and print them as a photo book or album, so you can flip through your most treasured memories any time you like.

Plan for your next vacation

TIP: Remember to save your favourites when you’re doing searches on Expedia, so that you can easily create flight and hotel itineraries when you’re ready to make a booking.

Wear the clothes that you have bought on your past vacations

TIP: Incorporate one piece of holiday clothing from your wardrobe while you work from home. You can even have themed days based on your most treasured pieces and destinations.

Looking at souvenirs from past trips

TIP: Souvenirs can make fantastic interior décor items. Prolong your Vacation State of Mind with a souvenir or trinket displayed at home that reminds you of your best holiday experiences.  

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