In a normal year, the summer marks the peak vacation period for North Americans and Europeans. Because of the Covid-19 Pandemic, 2020 is certainly not a normal year. As I write this, the normally active US-Canadian border remains closed through at least mid-July. Even within the US many states have quarantine procedures in place for out of state travelers from states with high infection rates. While inconvenient, the loss of vacations is a small price to pay to ensure public safety.
Vacations or holidays for British Commonwealth readers, are a relatively recent creation. Initially, only the wealthy or elites could afford the luxury of a vacation. Their vacations were known as Grand Tours. From the mid-17th through the early 19th century, wealthy young men make extended visits to culturally significant areas. Italy and France were common destinations from the UK.
The industrial revolution of the 19th century changed things. Cheaper and faster travel along the growing rail networks and more income for the middle and working classes created demand for more leisure. To fully enjoy their break from work, people ‘vacated’ their homes for new locations.
This concept of the early industrial era has become firmly entrenched in western society. Most countries have minimum requirements for vacations. While no such minimum exists for the US, most companies provide vacation time for their employees. As a result, vacations have created multiple industries from cruise ships to theme parks. The phenomenon has even moved into the winter supporting entire ski towns.
Back in 2015, Map Monday featured the most visited location in each US State. With apologies to Canada and the rest of the world, today’s map focuses on Europe.
Map of Top Eurpoean Attractions (courtesy of TripAdvisor)
Sadly, not all vacation time gets used. According to the US Travel Association, more than half of American workers forfeit paid vacation time. Even if they take their vacations, many don’t leave their work behind. The advent of near ubiquitous digital connections means that a majority of vacationers check-in while away.
As always thanks for reading.
Armen
Note to Pay the Bills: Reading a good book is one of my favorite vacation activities. If it’s one of yours, why not consider the Warders – a James Bond like thriller in a high fantasy setting. You can find a summary of the series here and links to purchase here. If that’s not your cup of tea, how about a YA series that mixes Arthurian legend and String Theory in upstate NY. Learn more by reading a summary of Misaligned here or find links to purchase here.