For a year now, discovering the world and traveling the roads has become impossible. However, traveling and visiting new places is synonymous with happiness. Indeed, traveling frequently would be a source of well-being and would make us happier, according to a recent American study.

Conducted by researchers from the School of Hospitality Business Management at Washington State University, this study reveals that traveling regularly, especially more than 120 kilometers from your home, would have a very positive impact on morale and well-being. be, whether short to long term. Scientists wanted to see the effects of travel and tourism activities over a year. Asked about their habits, the 500 participants indicated the level of importance of trips in their life, the time spent planning them, the number of experiences carried out in a year, as well as the satisfaction they derived from them with their lives. . The study, published in the journal Tourism Analysis, indicates that more than 50% of participants make more than 4 trips (non-professional) in a year and that only 7% of them have had no experience. touristic. In addition, those who traveled often were happier (+ 7%) than those who did not or little travel.

The researchers also observed that people who researched their future trips, who gave importance to tourist information and who shared their plans were more likely to complete their trips. Those who do not discuss their future destinations seem on the contrary, less invested and less fulfilled in their lives. 

You don’t have to travel to the other side of the planet to be happier, the study experts proved that walking just 120 kilometers from your home is enough. Visiting new places and seeing different landscapes for a weekend allows us to disconnect from reality and live in the present moment.

« While certain things like work, family life and friends play a larger role in overall well-being reports, the accumulation of travel experiences appears to have a minor but noticeable effect on self-reported life satisfaction. . It really illustrates the importance of being able to break out of your routine and experience new things. Explains Dr. Chun-Chu (Bamboo) Chen, lead author of the study. Good news for the tourism sector, which hopes that the year 2021 will be marked by travel.