Why tourism professionals are real lucky charms: New publication on the effects of vacation travel on recovery, health and well-being
For a long time, the success of the tourism industry was measured primarily on the basis of economic indicators such as the number of overnight stays or sales. However, these key figures fall short when it comes to capturing the overall social value of tourism. In its latest publication, the German Institute for Tourism Research focuses on an additional perspective: the positive social effects of vacation travel on relaxation, health and the subjective well-being of travelers.
The publication contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the social added value of tourism by addressing the question of how vacation travel affects the recreation, health and subjective well-being of travelers. The aim was to demonstrate the diverse effects of vacation travel on an individual level and to highlight this social value dimension of the industry.
Procedure of the study
The results are based on an iterative-sequential literature review in which current research findings from various disciplines were brought together. A total of 92 scientific papers (theoretical, conceptual and empirical studies) were evaluated, which examined the central topics of relaxation, health and subjective well-being. The works originate from the fields of tourism research, psychology, medicine and social sciences.
Key findings of the study
“The results of our analysis show that vacation trips have a significant impact on relaxation, health and the subjective well-being of travelers. These effects are not only noticeable during the trip, but also beyond,” says Charlotte Bellmann, head of the project. Vacation trips offer the best conditions for successful recovery processes, which are crucial for reducing stress and restoring resources such as the ability to pay attention. Prolonged stress can have a variety of negative consequences for physical and mental health, which is why recovery is essential for well-being. Another result of the study is the health-promoting effects of vacation trips. Studies show that people who travel regularly report better health. Also worth mentioning are study results that provide evidence of positive correlations between vacation trips and heart health. Vacation trips help to increase life satisfaction. During the trip, people experience more positive emotions (joy, satisfaction) and fewer negative emotions (stress, anger). It is interesting to note that these effects are still detectable up to 30 days after the trip. People who travel regularly show higher overall life satisfaction than people who rarely or never travel. Longer-term positive developments such as self-acceptance, finding meaning and personal growth can also be promoted through vacation trips. In particular, challenging activities that take travelers out of their comfort zone support this form of well-being.
Conclusion: More than just “the best time of the year”
“The new publication makes it clear that the social value of vacation travel goes far beyond economic figures and that the industry is a real source of happiness,” explains Anne Köchling, Vice Director of the German Institute for Tourism Research. Vacation travel makes a significant contribution to the relaxation, health and subjective well-being of travelers. These effects are not only noticeable in the short term during the trip, but also over longer periods of time.
By integrating the social effects of vacation trips into the measurement of tourism success, new, more holistic evaluation standards could be established. These could revitalize the discussion about the social significance of tourism and place the relevance of the industry on a broader footing. The links between vacation travel, relaxation, health and the well-being of travelers are a topic of relevance to society as a whole and of great interest to tourism research and practice, but there is a lack of in-depth knowledge about these relationships, particularly in relation to German demand. In follow-up projects, the German Institute for Tourism Research plans to contribute to a better understanding of the effects and opportunities to influence practice, to a greater awareness of the social relevance of the industry and to the development of new indicators for measuring the success of destinations.
Further results can be found in the publication entitled “Die schönste Zeit des Jahres? Effects of vacation travel on recreation, health and well-being of travelers” by the German Institute for Tourism Research, FH Westküste University of Applied Sciences (DI Tourismusforschung). The authors are Charlotte Bellmann, Anne Köchling, Julian Reif and Bernd Eisenstein. The project took place in cooperation with Hamburg Tourismus GmbH.