'India is the 5th most vacation deprived country globally'

Globally India has been ranked as the fifth most vacation deprived country due to heavy work schedule, according to a survey.

India ranks as the fifth most vacation deprived country globally with 60 percent respondents corroborating with the view, Expedia Vacation Deprivation Report 2017. Expedia is a full service online travel agency.

South Korea stood at number one position with 82 percent, followed by France (66 percent), Malaysia (65 percent) and Hong Kong (64 percent), it added.

Among the least vacation deprived country Norway is ranked number one at 38 percent followed by the Netherlands (39 percent), Ireland (44 percent), Sweden (44 percent) and Taiwan (44 percent).

This online survey was conducted on behalf of Expedia by Northstar Research Partners from September 4-15, 2017 among 15,081 respondents across 30 countries.

The survey further revealed that 55 percent Indians take fewer days of the vacation days they get and 28 percent don't take leaves as work schedule does not allow for vacation or there are not enough staff to cover.

"It is very important to inculcate an organisational culture that promotes healthy work-life balance through timely vacations. While technology helps us leave the office in time, it doesn't necessarily mean that we are disconnected from work," Expedia India marketing head Manmeet Ahluwalia said.

Indians, the survey found, have not taken a holiday in the last six months because 37 percent cannot afford a holiday, 36 percent can't get time off from work and 27 percent are saving their time for a long holiday.

A good holiday and disconnecting from work at least once or twice a year is crucial for rejuvenating not just the body, but the mind as, it said.

Further, 55 percent Indians feel that being vacation deprived results in decreased productivity at work while 64 percent are more focused once back from vacation.

About 67 percent Indians (third globally) have cancelled or postponed vacation plans because of work, after Thailand (75 percent), UAE (70 percent), it pointed out.

It revealed that 34 percent Indians are even willing to take a cut in their salary for extra vacation days.

Meanwhile, the survey also revealed that 97 percent Indians are willing to give up something for a week in order to have one extra day of vacation, including alcohol (46 percent), dessert (39 percent), social media (50 percent), television (54 percent) and coffee (46 percent).