Expedia's 24th annual Vacation Deprivation ReportĀ reveals a troubling trend: Americans are more vacation deprived than ever. Despite having just 12 days off annually, 53% of Americans do not plan to use all their vacation time this year. This level of vacation deprivation, defined as the feeling of not having enough time off, has reached an 11-year high of 65% in the United States, even as other countries report declines.
The report compares vacation habits across various countries, uncovering significant differences. While American and Japanese workers receive a similar number of vacation days each year (12 and 11 days respectively), Japan has the lowest vacation deprivation rate worldwide at 53%. In contrast, Americans are nearly twice as likely to go a year or more between vacations compared to the global average (32% vs. 18%).
Melanie Fish, head of public relations for Expedia Group brands,Ā suggests that Americans could benefit from adopting vacation habits from other countries. "Although we can't control the number of vacation days, we can certainly learn from other cultures. Japanese workers, for instance, take frequent short breaks, while the French often spread their vacation time throughout the year."
Japan's approach to vacations offers valuable lessons:
The French have a unique approach to vacations that could be beneficial for Americans:
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Fish notes that busy lives and the complexities of planning can often hinder people from taking full advantage of their vacation time. However, technological tools like Expedia's Price Tracking and Price Drop Protection can simplify the booking process, reducing stress and encouraging more frequent vacations.
ExpediaĀ has been commissioning the Vacation Deprivation Report since 2000 to explore global work-life balance trends. The 2024 study surveyed 11,580 respondents from various countries, including the U.S., UK, Canada, Mexico, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Conducted by Harris Research Partners, the report has a margin of error of 1-4% at a 90% confidence level.