The Asian nation where 35% of people say they’ll 'never travel' again

Everyone is traveling, it seems.

Data shows people are traveling more often and for longer periods of time, with many planning big bucket list-style trips this year.

But this isn’t the reality for all.

Another group of people are quietly emerging from the pandemic with little to no interest to travel anymore.

Where ‘never travelers’ are highest
A survey of 16,000 adults in 15 countries by the global intelligence company Morning Consult found that Asia is home to the highest percentage of people who said they’ll “never travel” again.

Some 15% of South Korean and 14% of Chinese respondents indicated they would never travel again, according to Morning Consult’s “The State of Travel & Hospitality” report published in August.  

North America isn’t far behind, with 14% of American and 11% of Mexican respondents indicating the same.

Yet, no country came close to the travel reluctance shown in Japan, where some 35% of respondents said they don’t intend to travel again.

The survey asked about “any leisure travel” and did not differentiate between domestic or international travel plans, said Lindsey Roeschke, a travel and hospitality analyst at Morning Consult.

Respondents were surveyed twice this year: in April and July, she said. During that time, travel confidence increased among other Japanese respondents, including those who said they plan to travel in the next three months (+7 points) as well as the next 12 months (+4 points).

But in both surveys, “the number of ‘never travelers’ ... stayed the same in Japan,” said Roeschke.

Even with travel intentions on the rise, Japan’s rates remain far behind other countries, including those in North Asia, according to the report.