by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 6:50 PM ET, Tue May 14, 2024
In 2023, the travel and tourism industry accounted for 9.1 percent of the global domestic product and generated just over $9.9 trillion.
What’s more, in 2024, the industry is expected to reach an all-time high of $11.1 trillion, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).
The economic benefits of travel are well-documented and dissected. But the health benefits of traveling garner far fewer headlines.
The reality however, is that travel does wonders for the human condition — improving our mental wellness and our overall health. Mental health experts confirm as much (More on that later).
A recently released report from Milwaukee-based advertising agency BVK underscores this idea, as well. And we’re not just talking about spa vacations when it comes to the direct mental health benefits individuals experience as a result of travel.
“The positive impacts of travel go far deeper than dollar signs,” begins the BVK report. “Travel provides people with the opportunity to connect more with others, to experience a greater reverence for nature, to improve health and well-being, to encounter different ideas and experiences, and to grow personally and professionally.”
The report goes on to note that 93% of Gen Z respondents agreed that travel experiences can have a positive impact on their mental health. It also points out that regardless of generation, the number one reason people want to travel in 2024 is to recharge.
In recognition of May being Mental Health Month, TravelPulse reached out to a variety of experts — both from the mental health industry and the travel industry — to dig a little deeper into the ways travel improves one’s mental health. Here are some of the top takeaways from those conversations.
Reduced Stress
Travel’s ability to reduce our day-to-day stress is perhaps one of the most established benefits.
A 2013 study published in the Journal of Travel Research, for instance, found that participants who took a vacation experienced a significant decrease in stress and reported a better mood even five weeks after the trip was over.
A separate study, this one focused on wellness retreats, which was published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine in 2017, showed that participation in retreats that combine activities like yoga, meditation, and spa treatments can lead to decreased stress levels (and increased mindfulness, as an added bonus.)
Need still more proof? A meta-analysis published in Environmental Research (2020) demonstrated that spending time in nature, such as hiking or camping during travels, is associated with reduced levels of stress, anxiety, and depression.
“The benefits of travel stem from exposure to new environments, opportunities for relaxation and reflection, social interactions, and engaging in enjoyable activities, all of which contribute to overall mental and emotional wellness,” Jasmine Sawhne, MD, a board certified psychiatrist, told TravelPulse.
Higher Levels of Creativity
Travel can also stimulate our creativity, according to mental health experts.
“The proven benefits of travel to mental health are quite specific and rather extensive,” Nilou Esmaeilpour, MSc, founder and clinical director of Lotus Therapy, a clinical counseling practice, tells TravelPulse. “Travel exposes an individual to new environments and cultures that, in turn, should enhance creativity.”
This creativity may be triggered by travel requiring us to overcome challenges, or adapt to new cultures. Additionally, an article in Vogue on the topic reported that when we're exposed to new experiences and new ideas, our mindset broadens, further stimulating creativity. The article goes on to note that "these benefits don’t just apply to quick jaunts out of town. Longer
stints abroad have a lasting impact on lifelong creativity."
Indeed, some of history's most legendary artists produced their most memorable works after immersive travels. Most famously, Ernest Hemingway was known to view travel as key to fueling his creative writing process.
Reduced Depression and Anxiety
The experience of traveling itself is physically active for most people, whether that means walking around a new city or skiing down a mountain. These types of activities, in turn, help raise one’s mood and reduce feelings of depression.
“Travel triggers physical activities and engagement with the surrounding environment, which is novel and different, increasing the levels of dopamine and serotonin to eventually enhance mood and overall well-being,” explains Esmaeilpour.
Travel also involves social interactions and new experiences through which one could make a perspective change and acquire a sense of fulfillment, Esmaeilpour adds.
In many cases, traveling also serves as a reflective escape from the daily pressures of life. And this in turn, can allow for improved mental clarity and a reduction in anxiety. According to the BVK report, 89% of Gen Z travelers reported returning from a vacation feeling less anxious and more positive.
“The fact that one moves away from the pressures of everyday life offers an opportunity for a little space…and this goes into mental well-being,” explains Esmaeilpour.
Young female traveler enjoying a summer vacation on a tropical beach in Krabi, Thailand. (Photo Credit: Adobe Stock/Kittiphan)
Increased Mental Resiliency
As any traveler can tell you, the experience does not come without the occasional challenge, set-back, or delay. But here too, there can be benefits for your long-term mental well-being.
The complications that may arise during travel help to increase our resiliency, says Holly Schiff, Psy.D., a licensed clinical psychologist with South County Psychiatry.
"By dealing with travel delays and other things that may come up in a new environment, you get out of your comfort zone and feel accomplished once you are able to successfully navigate challenges that arise,” Schiff explains.
The educational aspect of travel, meanwhile, such as learning about different cultures, histories, and environments—stimulates cognitive development and promotes an open and adaptable mindset.
“This not only enriches one's knowledge and personal growth, but also contributes to mental resilience,” says Peter Hamdy, co-founder and managing director of Auckland & Beyond Tours.
Decreased Burnout
At its best, travel offers an escape from the monotony and stress of everyday life. This in turn, provides you with much needed psychological relief and reduces the risk of burnout, suggests Hamdy.
“Engaging with new cultures, landscapes, and experiences fosters a sense of novelty and excitement, which can significantly uplift one's mood and outlook on life,” explains Hamdy.
A long time industry insider, Hamdy adds that its not just burnout that can be eased by travel.
Because travel also serves to promote deeper connections - both with our fellow travelers and in the best cases, with locals in the places we’re visiting - it also helps individuals develop a greater sense of community and belonging, suggests Hamdy.
And that’s not all.
"These social interactions can enhance empathy, understanding, and communication skills, contributing to emotional well-being,” he adds.
Elderly woman takes a selfie at the airport (Photo Credit: Yakobchuk Olena / Adobe Stock)
Increased Happiness and Excitement
Raise your hand if you get more and more excited as the departure date for a big trip draws near. If this sounds familiar, you’re hardly alone. And once again, there are mental health benefits taking place.
“You can even feel the [mental health] benefits before the trip — preparing, packing and looking forward to your travel can be beneficial to your mental health,” explains Schiff.
Healthy anticipation and giving yourself something to look forward to increases your happiness and excitement, Schiff adds.
“Planning your trip lets you escape your mundane day-to-day routine,” she says. “We also know that a trip has a defined start and end, which makes your brain want to savor it even more — even before you have left.”
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