New Study Suggests Travel May Slow Down Aging

WASHINGTON — Dreaming of a winter vacation relaxing on a beach or skiing down a snowy slope? Perhaps you prefer meeting people while exploring a new city. Beyond a break from the daily grind, a new study proposes that traveling may benefit health and slow down the natural process of aging.

Health tourism is already a growing industry where the trip itself promotes health, like a yoga retreat that includes healthy food. The recent study from researchers in Australia is the first to propose that a positive tourism experience can benefit health.

A Novel View of How Tourism Influences Human Health

Researchers at Edith Cowan University in Australia have published a new study in the Journal of Travel Research proposing that tourism can positively or negatively influence human health based on speeding up or slowing down entropy.

The researchers define entropy increase as “a universal law describing a natural progression from order to disorder.” Regarding human health, aging is an example of an increase in entropy. Some systems in our bodies naturally decline as we get older, but there are steps we can take to slow the process down.

Regular exercise and eating a nutritious diet can help preserve muscle and bone strength, mobility, and heart, mental and brain health. Social interaction to ward off loneliness also becomes increasingly important to maintain cognitive and mental health as we age. These are all examples of healthy practices to slow down entropy.

The new study suggests that positive travel experiences, too, can slow down entropy. On the other hand, negative experiences may speed up entropy. The researchers propose taking a closer look at the intersection between health and tourism to add to the growing interest in health tourism.

The Influence of Positive and Negative Travel Experiences on Entropy

Researchers suggest tourism may have positive or negative impacts on three areas of human health: physical, mental and social.

Positive Travel Experiences

The study identifies the following four positive travel experience outcomes and explains how they relate to health.

• Exposure to Novel Environments: Experiencing a new environment when you travel stimulates your brain. If your destination includes natural beauty, exposure to trees, mountains or bodies of water, these can boost your health. Visiting a new city or town where you view unique architecture or learn about history also gives your brain new information to process.

• Physical Activity: Tourism often calls for more physical activity than you are accustomed to. On a nature adventure, you may participate in swimming, kayaking, surfing, hiking, climbing or jogging. If you’re visiting a city or town, you’ll likely walk more steps than usual to see the historical or cultural sights. Many hotels offer fitness classes or a gym, so you can intentionally do more activity outside of touring.

• Social Activity: Socializing is critical to mental and physical health. Loneliness can increase chronic inflammation and the risk of developing dementia. You may take a trip with family, friends, or another group where you spend more time socializing than at home. Sharing meals or having new experiences builds a closer bond. If you travel alone, you may also find opportunities to meet other travelers, locals, or groups, taking you out of your comfort zone to make new connections.

• Emotional Activity: The study also mentions that tourism often brings positive emotions. These emotions may be excitement, happiness, gratitude, hope, or love for your companions. Of course, you may also feel “negative” emotions on a trip, like fear, anger, sadness, or loneliness. Experiencing the full spectrum of emotions makes us human and processing them is good for mental health. Taking time away may also give you a new perspective or revelations about your life back home.

Negative Travel Experiences

After saving and planning for a trip, there is always a chance things won’t go as planned, and it can negatively affect your health. The study mentions the following areas that can harm human health:

• Accidents and Injuries: While these can happen at home or abroad, trying a new activity you don’t usually do may increase the risk of an accident or injury.
• Violence: Traveling somewhere that is known for targeting tourists may increase the risk of experiencing violence or theft.
• Infectious Disease: Catching a disease in a foreign location can be harmful, especially when you’re away from regular medical care.
• Safety Issues with Food and Water: Eating and drinking water your body isn’t used to can also cause health issues.

Touring for Health

Any choice you make in life comes with potential positive and adverse health outcomes. Taking a vacation offers more than just a fun time away from work. Experiencing new environments, getting more physical and social activity, and having the time and space to feel and process a range of emotions together can boost physical and mental health. 

Strengthening your brain, heart, lungs, muscles and mental health can slow down entropy and help you live a longer, healthier life. The study also proposes the idea of travel therapy for people who can access it. If you’re considering booking a fall or winter getaway, know that your health will thank you.

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