Canadians have a fever, and the only cure is more travel.
A new Flight Centre Canada report finds that 82% of Canadians feel vacations are not a luxury, but are instead essential to their health and wellbeing. Nearly seven in ten (69%) says doctors should be able to scribble “vacation required” on their RX forms to give them a needed break from work and everyday stress.
The report also finds that 87% of Canadians would rather take a vacation than seek therapy. For Gen X members, that rises to 91%.
Flight Centre also found that one-half of Canadian workers (49%) would trade a 10% pay hike for two extra weeks of vacation.
“Gen Z in particular wishes to redefine their work-life balance through travel, treating trips as a core part of their identity and integral to their mental health,” company officials said. “They’re the most likely of all demographics to trade a raise for extra vacation (66%, compared to millennials at 54%, Gen X at 41% and baby boomers at 36%).”
Other key findings:
CANADIAN BURNOUT
Three in 10 Canadians rate their current level of wellbeing as fair (running low and could use a break) or poor (burnt out or exhausted).
For Gen X, the number climbs to 42%.
Top stressors are cited as financial pressure and rising costs (58%), news fatigue or global uncertainty (39%), and family or caregiving load (30%). Women experience significantly more drain from family or caregiving load (35% vs. 25% of men), while men have more news fatigue (46% vs. 34% of women).
“People aren’t just booking vacations — they’re booking time to feel better,” said Anita Emilio, Executive Vice President, Flight Centre Canada. “Travel has always had the power to lift us, but now Canadians are seeing it as something deeper: a reset button, a source of joy, a way to reconnect with what matters. It’s not about escaping life. It’s about returning to it feeling more like yourself.”
DISCONNECTING DIFFICULTY
Even as the “right to disconnect” movement grows around the world, many Canadians find that stepping away from work is easier said than done.
One in four (25%) told Skyscanner their workplace makes it difficult to disconnect. In BC, 33% say fully clocking out is a challenge.
More than a quarter of Canadians (28%) admit they feel guilty taking time off because someone else will have to cover for them. That guilt hits women hardest: 34% feel this way compared to just 22% of men.
Even when people do manage to get away, many don’t leave work behind for long. Over half of Canadians (51%) check email while they’re on vacation, with 16% confessing they do it secretly after promising to stay logged off. Another 35% openly let colleagues know they’ll be reachable, never taking the full break they deserve.
Gen Z is the most likely to feel the toll of digital connection: 37% cite it as a major strain compared to 32% of millennials, 22% of Gen X and just 10% of baby boomers.
While wellness tourism has exploded globally, only 10% of Canadian travel intenders would choose an experience focused solely on activities like meditation, yoga and spa treatments. Instead, they’re seeking vacations that feel restful and restorative to them.
FLY AND FLOP
Skyscanner found that 32% of Canadians want a beach or resort escape, while 21% are seeking a nature or wilderness trip, and 19% prefer a cultural or heritage-focused holiday.
Other vacation preferences include:
- Multigenerational trips or family reunions, 17%
- Solo or self-discovery journeys, 12%
- Cruises (ocean or river), 12%
- Culinary or wine experiences, 11%
- Adventure or active travel, 10%
- Wellness or restorative retreats, 10%
- Sports or Events Travel, 8%
- Hobby-based trips, 7%
Of course, Gen Z does things a little differently. They’re the least likely group to opt for a beach or resort escape (19%) and most likely of all demographics to lean into culinary or wine travel (21%), solo travel (18%) and adventure travel (16%).
