Going for a trip? Here's why you should opt for a digital-free one!
| Aug 19, 2019, 11:15 IST
When was the last time you went on a trip without your phone? When did you last just take in the view instead of putting pictures of it up on your Instagram handle? Technology may have helped make things a lot simpler and easier for us, but it's also managed to completely take over our lives. A new study claims that travelling without technology or going on a 'digital-detox' while travelling, can actually help people undertake an emotional journey.
The study required people to engage in a proper digital-free travelling experience wherein they had no access to mobile phones, laptops, tablets, the Internet, social media and navigation tools. Lead author Dr Wenjie Cai, from the University of Greenwich Business School, said, “In the current ever-connected world, people are used to constant information access and various services provided by different applications."
“However, many people are increasingly getting tired of constant connections through technologies and there is a growing trend for digital-free tourism, so it is helpful to see the emotional journey that these travellers are experiencing,” added Dr Cai. The participants of the study reported spending more time with their travelling companions as well as interacting more with the locals and other travellers.
The researchers also tried to find the emotional outcomes of such digital-free trips. They wanted to understand whether people would have a positive experience or a negative one. As an example, they spoke about how most people were dependent on map apps on their phones and when taken away, it could cause them anxiety. The researchers also claimed that these findings could help tour operators and destination management organisations understand what their customers want so that the trips can be planned accordingly.
“Understanding what triggers consumers’ negative and positive emotions can help service providers to improve products and marketing strategies. The trips our travellers took varied in terms of lengths and types of destinations, which provides useful insights into various influencing factors on emotions,” said Dr McKenna.
For the study, 24 participants from seven countries travelled to 17 countries and regions. These people were asked to disconnect from their phones and technology for 24 hours and then record data via diary interviews. It was found that while most people were able to embrace the tech disconnection and even said that it helped them as they were able to focus more on their surroundings, others found it difficult to give up on technology.
When reconnected with technology, many participants said that they felt overwhelmed by the amount of information they received. But since they enjoyed spending time away from technology, they planned to do it again in the future. Stay tuned for more updates.
The study required people to engage in a proper digital-free travelling experience wherein they had no access to mobile phones, laptops, tablets, the Internet, social media and navigation tools. Lead author Dr Wenjie Cai, from the University of Greenwich Business School, said, “In the current ever-connected world, people are used to constant information access and various services provided by different applications."
“However, many people are increasingly getting tired of constant connections through technologies and there is a growing trend for digital-free tourism, so it is helpful to see the emotional journey that these travellers are experiencing,” added Dr Cai. The participants of the study reported spending more time with their travelling companions as well as interacting more with the locals and other travellers.
The researchers also tried to find the emotional outcomes of such digital-free trips. They wanted to understand whether people would have a positive experience or a negative one. As an example, they spoke about how most people were dependent on map apps on their phones and when taken away, it could cause them anxiety. The researchers also claimed that these findings could help tour operators and destination management organisations understand what their customers want so that the trips can be planned accordingly.
“Understanding what triggers consumers’ negative and positive emotions can help service providers to improve products and marketing strategies. The trips our travellers took varied in terms of lengths and types of destinations, which provides useful insights into various influencing factors on emotions,” said Dr McKenna.
For the study, 24 participants from seven countries travelled to 17 countries and regions. These people were asked to disconnect from their phones and technology for 24 hours and then record data via diary interviews. It was found that while most people were able to embrace the tech disconnection and even said that it helped them as they were able to focus more on their surroundings, others found it difficult to give up on technology.
When reconnected with technology, many participants said that they felt overwhelmed by the amount of information they received. But since they enjoyed spending time away from technology, they planned to do it again in the future. Stay tuned for more updates.