"Why has travel become a burden?" is a question that many people may have asked silently during their travels.
We look forward to escaping the everyday, but we are chasing time and sights on the road. What is the hidden truth behind this?
1. Pursue the perfect itinerary
The perfectionist thinking in traditional Chinese culture is fully reflected in tourism. For a long time, we have been taught to be the best we can be, both at work and in other areas of life. This mindset is also dominant when planning a trip.
We work hard to curate each stop so that it can be the best it can be, whether it's a scenic spot or a cultural experience. This quest has greatly affected our travel experience, turning what should have been an easy and enjoyable journey into a race against time and schedules.
This phenomenon is also exacerbated by society's expectations of "successful travel". In the eyes of friends and family, a successful trip often means visiting as many famous attractions as possible, taking lots of photos, and sharing them on social platforms.
This expectation drives us to constantly pursue "perfect photos" and "perfect experiences" when traveling, ignoring the ease and pleasure that travel is supposed to bring.
This cultural and psychological pressure makes us often ignore our personal feelings and physical needs when traveling. We are constantly scheduling activities, with little time to stop and take a deep breath and feel the moment.
The hectic and fast-paced nature of the itinerary ultimately leads to physical and mental exhaustion rather than true relaxation and enjoyment. The pursuit of the perfect itinerary is not only the result of personal choice, but also the product of the collision of culture and expectations.
We need to realize that the true meaning of travel is to experience and enjoy, not just to meet a certain standard or expectation. Redefining travel and finding your own rhythm may be the key to getting rid of this burden.
Second, the pressure of social media
The popularity of social media has changed the way people share their travel experiences. On platforms such as Weibo, WeChat Moments, and Douyin, travel photos and videos have become an important means of showcasing one's lifestyle.
This kind of display is not only a record of good moments, but more often it becomes a symbol of social identity and quality of life.
People are increasingly setting their own travel standards through travel sharing on social media, and this invisible pressure of comparison makes many people feel compelled to meet some sort of "standard" in their travels in order to maintain their social presence.
This trend of display and comparison is exacerbated by the "check-in culture" on social media. A "check-in" is a way to visit a famous attraction or landmark, take a photo and share it on social media as a way to prove that you've been there.
This behavior motivates people to spend a lot of time while traveling, looking for and photographing the "perfect spot", rather than actually enjoying the process. Driven by this culture, travel has become a race to show and compare, rather than an experience of relaxation and exploration.
Displays on social media tend to be highly screened and embellished. People tend to share the best and most perfect moments of their trips, while hiding the tiredness and unpleasantness of their trips.
This unreal presentation creates the illusion that someone else's trip is always perfect, while their own journey seems uneventful.
This misconception further exacerbates comparisons and dissatisfaction, leading many people to constantly seek more "check-in spots" and "perfect moments" while traveling in order to gain recognition and appreciation on social media.
This constant display and comparison can also cause psychological stress and anxiety. Self-doubt and uneasiness can arise when an individual's travel experience does not match the idealized image displayed on social media.
This state of mind not only affects the enjoyment of travel, but can also have a long-term impact on an individual's self-identity and mental health.
In the face of social media pressure, we need to rethink what travel means. Travel shouldn't be a showcase on social media, but rather a personal experience and growth.
A true travel experience comes from the exploration of a new environment, an understanding of different cultures, and a reflection on one's own heart, not the number of likes and comments on social media. By breaking free from the shackles of social media and returning to the essence of travel, we can truly enjoy the joy and tranquility that travel brings.
3. Commercialization of the tourism market
With the rapid development of the tourism market and the intensification of competition, commercialization has become a major feature of the tourism industry. Tourist attractions, hotels, travel agencies and even local governments are actively promoting their own tourism products and services to attract more tourists.
This promotion is often achieved by hyping up the hype, creating buzz, and creating a unique experience. For example, some scenic spots will attract tourists by packaging "must-see" or "must-see" travel experiences.
This marketing strategy stimulates consumers' desire to buy to a certain extent, prompting them to spend more while traveling.
The infiltration of consumerist culture has turned tourism into a way to showcase one's spending power and taste. Under this cultural influence, people are increasingly considering whether they will be able to demonstrate their identity and status when choosing tourist destinations and activities.
For example, some high-end tourism products, such as luxury cruise trips and special private customized tours, have become tools to show personal economic strength and taste. This trend has not only pushed up the overall consumption level of tourism, but also made the travel experience homogeneous to some extent.
The over-packaging and commercialization of tourism products in the market can sometimes have a negative impact on the authenticity and depth of the travel experience.
In the pursuit of commercial interests, some attractions that should have cultural and historical value have been over-exploited and commercialized, losing their original charm and significance. This not only destroys tourism resources, but also makes it difficult for tourists to experience the real local culture and natural beauty.
Driven by commercialization and consumerism in the travel market, as consumers, we need to re-examine our motivations and purposes for travel. Travel should not be seen as a mere act of consumption, but as an exploration and understanding of oneself and the world.
By resisting over-commercialization of travel products and experiences and choosing those that offer authentic, meaningful experiences, we can better enjoy travel while generating positive feedback on the travel market and driving it towards a healthier and more sustainable direction.
The commercialization and consumerism drive of the tourism market is a complex phenomenon that not only affects our travel choices and experiences, but also has an impact on tourism resources and the environment.
As travel consumers, we have a responsibility to be aware of this and influence the direction of the travel market through our choices and behaviors.
epilogue
When we asked the question "Why are Chinese people generally so tired of traveling?", we found that this is not only the result of personal choice, but also the product of culture, social Xi and market environment.
True travel should be a relaxation of the mind, a journey of self-discovery. Perhaps we need to rethink the meaning of travel, find that original intention, and make travel a pleasure rather than a burden again.