UAE Millennials most... | Connecting Travel

Expedia research highlights the demographics struggling to catch a break

Data shows that nearly 20% of UAE millennials didn't have a vacation last year, with many not taking a holiday for six months.

According to Expedia’s latest Vacation Deprivation report, which looks closely at the UAE market, Millennials (aged 28 to 43) in the UAE have a higher percentage of vacation deprivation than Gen Z (aged 12 to 27), at 50% versus 35%.

These vacation-deprived demographics represent potential customers for travel agents.

Melanie Fish, Head of Expedia Group Brands Public Relations said: "Millennial workers have difficulties planning a vacation with 57% admitting to feeling overwhelmed by the process and find booking travel stressful because they never know if they’re getting a good deal. There’s so much choice that contemplating travel options can become a major mental burden. Our minds want shortcuts.”

Millennial women are slightly more vacation-deprived than their male counterparts (58% versus 57%). And Millennials of both genders aren't taking holidays because they're saving for a bigger vacation later on (29%), or they're saving annual leave for unexpected time off (27%). Others cite difficulties in balancing work schedules and workloads due to staff shortages (26%) as the thing holding them back.

Despite missing out on holidays, almost two thirds (64%) of UAE Millennials feel their mood boost when they are on holiday. Interestingly, more than 44% see their mood improve as soon as they book a trip (35%); even just the planning stages boosts the mood.

Globally, Gen Zers claim to be the most vacation-deprived, and the main thing holding them back from travelling is saving for a big trip.

By nation, Germans feel the most holiday deprived, followed by France, surprisingly, given its employees' 35-hour work week and 30 days holiday per year. Notorious for giving employees little annual leave, the US sits at number three.

Most "vacation deprived" countries in the world: