‘Britons Deplete 72 Hours Annually on Holiday Planning, Suffering Mental Exhaustion Due to ‘Travel FOBO’- Fear of Missing Out on Better Options’

According to new research, Brits spend more than two days (an average of 53 hours) a year planning their holidays.

The findings suggest that millions of would-be tourists to Britain are hesitant to hit the ‘book’ button because of the sheer variety of options on offer.

Generation Z (ages 16 to 26) appears to suffer the most from indecision, spending three days (72 hours) a year on craft trips.

Baby boomers (ages 59 to 77) plot their routes in almost half the time, but they still spend about two days a year (37 hours) planning trips.

This postponement, according to the study, is due to ‘Travel FOBO’ (fear of better options).

A study by First Choice suggests that millions of would-be tourists to Britain are hesitant to hit the ‘book’ button because of FOBO – ‘fear of better options’.

A close relative of FOMO, “fear of missing out”, FOBO is caused by an overload of information and options, partly fueled by inspiration from social media, and is paralyzing Brits when it comes to booking their getaways, says the First Choice Holidays studio.

Rather than feeling excited in anticipation of a holiday, Brits often feel mentally drained by the process, often hit by “booking regret” – and two in five (41 per cent) said they find planning vacation is one of the “activities of life.” more stressful decisions.

The new study, of more than 3,000 Brits, found that 40 per cent feel overwhelmed by travel anxiety when it comes to booking, and 50 per cent of Gen Z and 52 per cent of millennials ( 27 to 42 years old) feel the pressure.

More than a third (39 percent) of travelers feel overwhelmed by the chaos of keeping track of multiple open tabs on devices and nearly a quarter (23 percent) consider more than 16 destinations before deciding what to book .

The study found that 40 percent feel overwhelmed by travel anxiety when it comes to booking.

Meanwhile, nearly half (42 percent) grow tired of an endless cycle of evaluating and reevaluating alternative options.

And in total, 42 percent admitted to having been defeated by the “procrastination paradox”: delaying booking until the last minute to find better deals, only to discover that prices had increased.

The wide range of options and information overload have left almost two in five (37 per cent) with booking remorse, feeling they had made a mistake after booking, with indecision and apprehension emerging after just two hours and seven minutes.

Despite the stress of FOBO, more than half of Brits (51 per cent) love taking control of their own travel arrangements and discovering the world on their own terms, findings reveal.

More than half (55 percent) said reviews and recommendations play an “important role” when booking a getaway.

But more than a third (37 per cent) feel their trust in online reviews has decreased and prefer to check holiday company websites and apps (34 per cent).

Generation Z (ages 16 to 26) appears to suffer the most from indecision, spending three days (72 hours) a year on crafting trips.

The findings reveal that more than half of Brits (51 per cent) love taking control of their own travel arrangements and discovering the world on their own terms.

First option has launched a new vacation booking platform to combat Travel FOBO and “help travel lovers choose the trip they really want.”

The recently renovated platform combines options for different tastes, budgets and prices, explains the travel company; There are even options for train trips.

Travelers can also choose between familiar and far-flung destinations and different activities, from cooking classes in Crete to stand-up paddleboarding in Mallorca, he adds.

Bart Quinton Smith, CEO of First Choice, said: ‘Our research shows that many of us are excited to put together our perfect trip together. But, in a world of endless options, FOBO can take all the fun out of planning a holiday.’

The company has seen a shift in vacation behavior in recent years, driven by “a new mindset” among travelers, the CEO said.

“For those who love to travel, vacations are one of the most important decisions we make and you don’t want to settle for anything less than the best,” he added.