• Almost three quarters (71%) of global travellers have regrets over missed travel opportunities, rising to 82% for Generation Z (18-24 year olds)
  • However, travel can be transformative and life enhancing for all generations as nearly a fifth (19%) of travellers say they found their purpose or passion in life when traveling, 17% have overcome a major fear and 15% learned a new language

Whether it's wishfully thinking about that long-distance holiday you could've booked, or that road trip you should've taken, Booking.com research reveals that a whopping 71% of global travellers have had regrets over missed travel opportunities.

The global leader in connecting travellers with the widest choice of incredible places to stay, in collaboration with ili, the world's fastest offline translation device, has conducted research across 20,500 global travellers to reveal that the biggest missed travel opportunities include not traveling more often (46%), not traveling more when younger (35%), not seeing more of the countries travelled to (29%), not going to more far-flung destinations (25%), not doing more adventurous travel (25%) and not going to more remote destinations (25%).

However, regrets are a lot higher amongst Generation Z with over a third of this age group regretting not being more adventurous (35%) and three in 10 (29%) regretting not going to more far-flung destinations. It's also no surprise that 32% of the selfie generation (18 to 24 year olds) found it upsetting when they failed to capture more photos to commemorate their trip. This figure stood at only 23% for overall travellers.

Despite their sense of regret, chiefly stemming from perceived barriers around language, expense, directions and safety in the unknown, half (53%) of all travellers have overcome their worries about traveling to a new destination and have travelled there. Generation Z are the most willing to face their travel anxieties head on with two thirds (61%) of 18 to 24 year olds overcoming their concerns. This has positive impacts as it encouraged 44% to travel more widely in the future, 41% gained increased confidence in life and 40% a sense of personal achievement. Travelling deepens existing and create new relationships with almost a third (30%) of travellers becoming closer to their family and over a quarter (27%) making new long-lasting friendships while on holiday.

For over half (55%) of travellers, going on holiday has inspired significant life changes, rising to 71% of 18 to 24 year olds, with nearly a fifth (19%) saying they found their purpose or passion in life, 17% of people have overcome a major fear and 15% learnt a new language. Traveling can also be beneficial both physically and mentally with 46% saying it had a positive effect on their mental health and 26% deciding to improve their physical health.

To receive your own ili device at a discounted rate and limited version of Booking.com case visit www.booking.com/offers/limitlesstraveller for more information and your discount code.

Research commissioned by Booking.com and independently conducted among a sample of adults who have taken a trip in the last 12 months/plan to take a trip in the next 12 months. In total 20,500 respondents were surveyed (1,000+ from Australia, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, China, Brazil, India, the USA, the UK, Russia, Indonesia and Columbia and 500+ each from Japan, New Zealand, Thailand, Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Hong Kong, Croatia, Taiwan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Sweden, Singapore and Israel.) Respondents completed an online survey in March 2018.

About Booking.com

Part of Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: BKNG), Booking.com's mission is to make it easier for everyone to experience the world. By investing in the technology that helps take the friction out of travel, Booking.com's marketplace seamlessly connects millions of travelers with memorable experiences every day.

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