India world's 4th most holiday-deprived nation!

India's Generation Y has emerged as the fourth most vacation deprived lot in the world as they are able to take an average of only 22 leave days annually, a survey has found.

However, 35 per cent of those surveyed were not able to take more than 15 days of annual leave in a year.

Interestingly, over 22 per cent Indians said that their bosses were not supportive of employees taking all of their annual leaves.

On an average, Indians are entitled to 26 annual leave days but are able to take an average of 22 days leave annually, found the survey conducted by Expedia amongst the service class professionals at managerial levels and above in 11 countries in December 2010 with over 1,000 respondents per country.

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1. Japan: 9 holidays

In the survey, Japan led the group of vacation deprived nations.

Japan emerged as the most holiday-deprived nation for the second consecutive year with an average 9 days annual leave.

However, 94 per cent of Japanese do not take all their leave days, taking on average only nine days of their entitled annual leave days.

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2. The United States: 14 holidays

The United States of America is the world's second most vacation-deprived nation after Japan.

The Americans have get only 14 days annual leave at an average.

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3. Australia: 16.5 holidays

Australians, with an average annual leave of 16.5 days, are the globe's third most holiday-deprived people.

Now also check out which are the world's most holiday-rich nations . . .

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1. France: 34.5 holidays

France, which ranks as the world's most holiday-rich nation, the average employee gets 37.5 annual leave days per year, but takes an average 34.5 of those days.

This was the tenth year of the Expedia Vacation Deprivation Survey, an annual survey which spotlights the growing trend of employed workers not taking all of their holidays.

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2. Spain: 28.5 holidays

Spain is the second most holiday-rich nation with an average of 28.5 days of annual leave.

In the 2010, Vacation Deprivation Survey, holiday habits were analysed among employed workers in 13 countries, namely the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany, France, Spain and Italy.

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3. Denmark: 26.5 holidays

The Danes get 26.5 days of annual leave at an average, making Denmark the world's third most holiday-rich nation.

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3. Italy: 26.5 holidays

Italy gets as much annual leave as Denmark does.

The Italians too enjoy 26.5 days of annual leave on average making them the world's third most holiday-rich people alongside the Danes.

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4. Norway: 26 holidays

Norwegians get half a day less than the Danes and Italians as annual leave.

With 26 days of yearly leave on an average, Norway is the world's fourth most holiday-rich country.

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5. Sweden: 25 holidays

Sweden has, on an average, 25 days of annual leave.

The Swedish are thus the world's fifth most holiday-rich people.

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5. The United Kingdom: 25 holidays

In the United Kingdom, employees get 25 days of annual leave on an average.

The British, like the Swedes, the world's fifth most holiday-rich people.

So where in India do people work the most and why don't Indians take all of their holidays?

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What spoils vacations for Indians

In India, the survey was conducted in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru for the first time by Expedia.

The survey also found that for over 50 per cent Indian respondents, their official e-mails and messages during vacation, were the main reasons for spoiling their holidays.

It was also revealed that Indians showed greater orientation towards family holidays. Over 18 per cent respondents did not take their vacations because their spouse or children were not getting leave at the same time.

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Delhiites work the most!

Interestingly, when it comes to deciding between money and holidays, Delhiites consider 'life = work', preferring monetary benefits over holidays, the survey found.

Nearly 43 per cent Delhiites considered work as their life, while 23 per cent of Bengalurians and 13 per cent Mumbaikars feel the same way.

About 82 per cent Delhiites work more than 40 hours a week followed by 52 per cent Mumbaikars and 40 per cent Bengalurians.

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Why Indians don't take vacations

More than the reaction from their boss, Delhiites are concerned about their leaves impacting their family, with 31 per cent feeling that taking vacation might negatively affect their spouse or partner or family member's job.

Also for 39 per cent Delhiites, children's education turned out to be the main reason for not taking a vacation, while only 22 per cent Mumbaikars and 19 per cent Bengalurians gave the same reason.

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Who encashes leave the most?

About 41 per cent Delhiites want to encash their leaves, which is quite high as compared to only 32 per cent Bengalurians and 22 per cent Mumbaikars.

However, when it comes to travel, Delhiites are significantly more adventurous as compared to their counterparts in Mumbai or Bengalurians.

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Over 38 per cent Delhiites want to try new places for their vacation followed by 34 per cent Bengalurians and 19 per cent Mumbaikars.

"This is the first time that we have undertaken the annual Vacation Deprivation survey in India. The study provides interesting insights into the key factors discouraging most Indians from taking their vacation; lack of choice and flexibility in the holiday offers emerged as one such factor," said Manmeet Ahluwalia, marketing head for Expedia.co.in.