The country where people are least willing to put down their phones on vacation: Taiwan ranks sixth

Reported by You T-Ru / Taipei

Which country’s travelers are most reluctant to part with their smartphones while on holiday abroad? A recent interesting global survey released by an international online hotel booking website revealed that travelers from Thailand are the most unwilling to give up using their mobile devices while on vacation. As many as 85% of them said they would break out in a cold sweat at the mere thought of not being able to use their beloved phones while on holiday.


▲ As many as 85% of travelers said they would break out in a cold sweat at the mere thought of not being able to use their beloved phones while on holiday. (Photo / Reported by You T-Ru)

The study surveyed the digital device usage habits of people from 28 countries around the world during holidays, aiming to further understand which countries struggle the most with achieving a healthy work-life balance, as well as which countries’ travelers are able to switch off and truly relax while on vacation. The results also showed that South Korean travelers are the next most attached to their mobile devices after Thailand, with 78% of respondents saying they can’t go a day without their phones, while Japan ranked third with 69%.

In comparison, Taiwan and Norway tied for sixth place, with 53% of respondents still unwilling to turn off their phones while on vacation. However, the study also showed that when the holiday ends and they return home, nearly half of Taiwanese people (48%) regret spending too much time on their mobile devices during the break. It’s no wonder—because the vast majority (72%) admitted to checking work emails while on vacation, and 86% said they try to use the holiday to forget about work. But for 53% of Taiwanese respondents, the inability to switch off their mobile devices isn’t just about work—it’s because they believe being able to access social media anywhere is very important.

% of people are reluctant to fully disconnect from their phones even on holiday. (Photo provided by Hotels.com)