Seventy-Six Percent of Young Americans have had to make changes to life plans over the next 12 months
LONDON – October 1, 2020 – With colleges and universities switching from in-person to online classes and back again, and the up-and down nature of the job market, plans for many Gen Zers are constantly in flux. A new study from Topdeck Travel reveals that young Americans are questioning what’s next and making considered changes to their future plans.
The findings paint a picture of a more anxiety-ridden generation than in previous years – with 76% of young adults having to make changes to their current life plans over the next 12 months, with 1 in 4 (26%) noting that they have decided to take time out from work and 1 in 6 (16%) opting to take time out from studying.
The study, commissioned by youth travel provider Topdeck Travel, engaged OnePoll to poll the views of a representative sample of 1,000 Americans aged 18 – 25. It reveals the impact the pandemic has made on young people’s lives, emotional well-being and travel plans.
According to the research, the pandemic has taken its toll on the mental wellbeing of young Americans with 35% saying they have struggled to look after their mental health during the lockdown. The survey found that other top contributors to stress for Gen Z are not being able to see people (37%) and finances (35%).
And with so much uncertainty in the future and around the changing COVID restrictions, nearly 1 in 2 Gen Zers (49%) expressed concerned about not being able to see their family and friends. Also high on their concern list was not being able to go to a restaurant / bar in a large group (33%) and being able to plan more than one month in advance (31%).
“The global pandemic has undoubtedly taken its toll on young people. Many are having to change their life plans and have been struggling to look after their mental wellbeing over these last few months,” noted Charles Knowlton, Global General Manager at Topdeck Travel. “Young people are keen to explore the world again, with the connections they make and the authentic travel experiences they gain playing an important role in helping them break free from the rules of normal life and providing them with the much-needed release they require. It’s clear that young Americans need travel plans to look forward to in order to boost their mental wellbeing and switch off from the events that have unfolded over the past months.”
According to the findings, going on holiday and enjoying the perks of travel is an important part of switching off from the events of the last few months for Gen Zers, with 28% noting this as the most important factor when it comes to booking a vacation. However, 37% of Gen Z reported that they were worried about not being able to travel and explore the world due to the ever-changing restrictions.
It’s clear that new travel experiences and adventures will boost the wellbeing of today’s young Americans – with 1 in 3 Gen Zers (33%) saying that having a meaningful and authentic travel experience is important to them, while 36% seek affordability while traveling, 28% aim to spend as much time outdoors as possible, and 21% hope to experience a different culture to what they’ve been used to.
“At Topdeck we want to do everything we can to make sure our travellers are kept as safe as possible when they are ready to travel again. Group touring offers a hassle-free, affordable approach to travel, developed to allow travellers to get under the skin of an unknown destination, and led by experienced trip leaders who ensure the tours provide seamless experiences for all,” continued Knowlton. “We’ve been reviewing our operations to ensure we can adapt and operate our trips safely when we get back on the road. We know that these are uncertain times and that restrictions are changing so we’re also providing increased flexibility for all new bookings made.”