by Donald Wood
Last updated: 5:30 PM ET, Wed November 4, 2015
Photo courtesy of Thinkstock
A recent survey suggests American adults are less likely to travel the world when compared to their international counterparts, with the main reason being the cost of the journey.
Hostelworld Global Traveler Report surveyed over 7,000 international travelers and discovered that United States citizens are only about half as likely as Europeans to journey abroad to more than one country.
The survey found that residents from the United Kingdom had visited 10 countries on average, while Germans visited an average of eight nations and the French averaged five. American adults have visited just three countries on average, and 29 percent of residents in the U.S. have never been abroad.
While the United States is the fourth most visited country in the world and the second most desired to visit by travelers, Americans have seen just two percent of the globe.
When asked about why they weren't traveling as much, 71 percent of American responders cited the costs and said they simply couldn't afford it. Other answers included not wanting to travel, having children or pets at home and having to pay the bills.
The news for travelers from the U.S. isn't all bad, though, as the survey found that 29 percent of Americans who traveled internationally visited more than one country in 2014. That's up from 15 percent in 2013 and nine percent in both 2011 and 2010.
Hostelworld's Chief Marketing Officer Otto Rosenberger released a statement, saying, "People think that going abroad to experience multiple nations can be expensive but it can be done at a low cost. Budget travel on an international basis is better and easier than ever before, with hostels becoming more stylish, comfortable and better equipped, while still being affordable and social. Decades ago, Americans were less acquainted with hostels than they are today. It seems millennials are adapting and are more frequent users of hostels because it allows them to do much more for their budget dollar."
And the industry is changing, as the U.N. World Tourism Organization is reporting youth travelers-ages 15-30-will soon account for 25 percent of all international travel, valued at $320 billion by 2020.
As for the Americans who are traveling, the survey found that 51 percent wanted to see the world, 48 percent were looking for adventure, 46 percent were looking new experiences and 24 percent travel internationally to visit friends and family.
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