In my adult life, the world’s complaint has been that not enough Americans travel abroad.
We’ve probably all heard some edition of this statement, in which other people fill in statistics on how many Americans have no interest in leaving the country (it was recently reported that only a third of Americans have passports) and why it’s a bad idea. passport. thing.
Well, it turns out we’re not alone. A recent study suggests that all countries are home to subsets of the population that don’t want to leave the city, and one country in particular, Japan, happens to be leading the way.
According to the report, only 23% of Japanese people have a passport and 35% of adults say they will “never again” have one for recreational purposes. For what? The study cites a number of reasons, most of which are undoubtedly cross-cultural and universal.
Risk Aversion/Health & Safety
One of the lasting effects of COVID-19 is the health and safety risks other people feel when they exercise. Not only does it reveal more things to you, but it also takes you away from the sports facilities in your home country, which makes other people nervous. In Japan, there is a “cultural preference for risk aversion,” the study says, which is driving people to stay home.
Stress and anxiety
Although we can get anywhere in the world faster than ever before, travel is still stressful and creates anxiety in people.
The study cites anxiety-provoking tensions and delays, as well as realities such as the language barrier (Japanese is not as widely spoken around the world as English, Spanish, or other Romance languages).
Labor & Finance
Like Americans, the Japanese also enjoy high-tension art environments, with limited days off and/or efforts not to take holidays.
The rate of travel has become a major factor in recent years, with the yen weaker than before and the impact of the pandemic on the economy still looming.
Sustainability and environmentalism
Although not cited through the Japanese, knowledge from other countries suggests that sustainability and environmentalism are also a barrier for some people, who feel that travel puts a strain on resources and has a negative effect on the environment.
Realities such as the carbon footprint of aircraft, the local resources of megaresorts, and travel-related disruptions to local life have all contributed to this situation.
There’s no better place than home
Finally, a positive explanation for the lack of interest abroad was the availability of domestic options. The report says Japan’s natural, ancient and cultural richness has encouraged some to explore closer to home.