Vacation-deprived Bengalureans blame it on their spouses

Bengalureans are the most vacation-deprived Indians. And who do they blame that for? Their spouses!

So says the 2014 Vacation Deprivation report, a global annual analysis report released on Monday by leading online travel agency Expedia.com.

Now, this is too much to stomach in a country that has been ranked globally as the most vacation-deprived nation.

Sixty-seven per cent of Indians surveyed were clear they were very or somewhat vacation-deprived. But none could beat Bengalureans in being “workaholics. Reason: Compared to employees in all Indian cities, Bengaluru workers were most likely to enjoy a vacation only towards the late second half of the break.

So, who do they blame, besides their spouses, for not taking a long break? Partner work demand and other family members. As Vikram Malhi, Managing Director, Asia, Expedia, informed, they are also number one in taking several short vacations / long weekend trips bypassing that one long vacation. If it is tough going in Bengaluru, it is not all sunshine for Indians in general either. In fact, compared to the 2013 Vacation Deprivation report, our countrymen have dropped six places. And that’s not all.

The report is clear that 64 per cent of Indians do not get enough vacation days, and 36 per cent don’t take all their break days.

But wonder why we are so vacation-deprived? The report is categorical that Indians prefer money in exchange for unused holidays. And yes, we are second only to Brazilians in this ‘money for break’ offer. There is another excuse, an interesting alibi for which Indians are actually the global number one: 

Nineteen per cent of the respondents from India are insecure that important work decisions will be taken without them. How do Indians spend their vacations, short or long? Eighteen per cent use vacation time to take care of errands or house projects. Eleven per cent of Indians have weddings or other family obligations to complete, and seven per cent prefer to spend it on business or leisure.

Indians are also globally first in agreeing to a home truth: A high 72 per cent acknowledge that regular vacations are critical to boost relationship with the significant other. No surprises then that Indians cannot wait to take a vacation in a new job. Forty-one per cent of them want a vacation within three months, and only 24 per cent can wait a year or longer.