Take a Trip: The Benefits are Everywhere

Travel Industry Association Releases Research Showing Personal Gains Through Travel

April 28, 2008

Washington, DC - In advance of the 25th annual National Tourism Week May 10-18, and Americans taxpayers receiving rebates as part of the recently enacted economic stimulus package, the Travel Industry Association today released a host of survey results and data that shows how everyone personally benefits from taking a trip.

Roger Dow, TIA's President and Chief Executive Officer, said his organization has gathered decades of research on how individuals and families benefit from traveling in the areas of health, education, career success, relationship-building and creativity.

"The evidence is overwhelming that when you take a trip, the benefits are everywhere," Dow said. "Despite the fact that Americans get less vacation time than in any country in the industrialized world, because of the personal benefits gained, we can't afford not to travel.

A March survey of American taxpayers indicated that $10 billion of the federal tax rebates designed to stimulate the economy will be spent on travel this year.

Among the findings of various studies* conducted during the past few decades:

• Travelers rate their overall health one full point higher (on a scale of 1 to 5) while on vacation. They also get three times more deep sleep after their vacation and sleep almost 20 minutes longer after their vacation.
• Even the anticipation of vacation travel generates an increase in positive feelings about one's life as a whole, family, economic situation, and health.
• An annual vacation can cut a person's risk of heart attack by 50 percent.
• Women who take more vacations are more satisfied with their marriages.
• More than half of employed Americans say they come back feeling reconnected with their family after vacation (53%).
• Three out of four executives believe that vacations are necessary for them to prevent burnout (78%) or that vacations improve their personal job performance (75%).
• Travelers experience a 25% increase in performance on vigilance tests after returning from vacation - travelers 45 or older show a 50% increase in performance.
• Two out of three executives believe that vacations improve their creativity (68%).

For more facts and information, click here.

"According to one study, overwork costs employers about $150 billion a year stress-related absences," Dow said. "There are 78 countries where the right to annual vacations of a minimum duration is prescribed by law. Some even have penalties for deferring the vacation."

Dow said TIA's goal over the long run is to develop relevant, timely research conducted by the association and credible partners on a host of issues related to how travel benefits us all in terms of our health, education, career success, cultural awareness, relationship-building and creativity.

"There was a recent article about how business travel can be fertile ground for discovering creative ideas for work or even a new business," Dow said. "We want to remind people that whether traveling for business or pleasure, we all benefit tremendously from the experience."

*Studies referenced through www.ustravel.org by clicking here

Contact:
Cathy Keefe 202-408-2183
Kristy Chandler 202-408-2172

The U.S. Travel Association is the national, non-profit organization representing all components of the $770 billion travel industry. U.S. Travel’s mission is to promote and facilitate increased travel to and within the United States. U.S. Travel is proud to be a partner in travel with American Express. For more information, visit www.ustravel.org.