What if the most uplifting remedy for modern-day overload wasn’t found on a therapist’s couch, but in a boarding pass? Moving into 2026, travel is emerging as an important form of non-medical therapy, says Flight Centre, citing a growing number of Canadians who are planning escapes that help them recharge, reconnect and feel more like themselves.
In fact, the vast majority of Canadians consider time away to be a vital part of their self-care routines and nearly seven in 10 believe doctors should be able to prescribe vacations, according to a survey of over 1,000 Canadians conducted on behalf of the travel retailer by YouGov.
“People aren’t just booking vacations, they’re booking time to feel better,” says Flight Centre VP executive VP Anita Emilio. “Travel has always had the power to lift us, but now Canadians are seeing it as something deeper: a reset button, a source of joy, a way to reconnect with what matters. It’s not about escaping life. It’s about returning to it feeling more like yourself.”
“One of the biggest challenges we face in corporate wellness is the persistent belief that being available 24/7 demonstrates commitment,” adds Anna Fisher, Director of Healthwise, Flight Centre Travel Group. “In reality, it demonstrates burnout in the making. As health and wellness leaders, we need to model and mandate true disconnection. When employees feel genuinely supported to step away – without guilt, without their inbox calling – they return sharper, more innovative and more committed than ever. Rest isn’t a reward for productivity; it’s a requirement for it.”
Among the research highlights:
TravelRX: A new type of prescription for 2026
Medical tourism may be experiencing exponential growth, but there’s a different type of treatment that’s gaining traction among Canadians: the journey itself.
Today, 82% of Canadians view vacations as essential to their health and wellbeing, not a luxury. The belief is strongest among men (85%) and baby boomers (84%), while 86% of Gen X say travel is built right into their self-care routine.
Nearly seven in 10 (69%) believe that doctors should be able to prescribe vacations as medicine, much like how they can now write a script for time in nature via PaRx. And it’s not just a personal preference – it’s a cultural shift. Millennials in particular (79%) would support this movement.
Vacation or therapy?
When given the choice between a therapy session or a vacation, an overwhelming 87% of Canadians would pack their bags. And for Gen X – the “sandwich generation” that’s juggling the demands of raising kids while also caring for aging parents – that number soars even higher to 91%.
Canadians are incredibly resilient. Yet, three in 10 rate their current level of wellbeing as fair (running low and could use a break) or poor (burnt out or exhausted). For Gen X, the number climbs to 42%.
Top stressors are cited as financial pressure and rising costs (58%), news fatigue or global uncertainty (39%), and family or caregiving load (30%). Women experience significantly more drain from family or caregiving load (35% vs. 25% of men), while men have more news fatigue (46% vs. 34% of women).
Here’s how Canadians ranked vacations when asked to choose their top two most likely trips for 2026:
The disconnect dilemma
Perhaps the biggest barrier to a truly regenerative trip is the inability to log off. Even as the “right to disconnect” movement grows around the world, many Canadians find that stepping away from work is easier said than done.
One in four (25%) say their workplace makes it difficult to disconnect. In BC, 33% say fully clocking out is a challenge.
The pressure doesn’t stop there. More than a quarter of Canadians (28%) admit they feel guilty taking time off because someone else will have to cover for them. That guilt hits women hardest: 34% feel this way compared to just 22% of men.
Even when people do manage to get away, many don’t leave work behind for long. Over half of Canadians (51%) check email while they’re on vacation with 16% confessing they do it secretly after promising to stay logged off. Another 35% openly let colleagues know they’ll be reachable, never taking the full break they deserve.
This isn’t just about overwork. It’s about boundaries. Gen Z is the most likely to feel the toll of digital connection: 37% cite it as a major strain compared to 32% of millennials, 22% of Gen X and just 10% of baby boomers.
Time over money: The wellness currency
In 2026, Canadians are rewriting what success looks like. Half (49%) of Canadian workers would trade a 10% raise for two extra weeks of vacation, including one in five (20%) who say they definitely would.
Gen Z in particular wishes to redefine their work-life balance through travel, treating trips as a core part of their identity and integral to their mental health. They’re the most likely of all demographics to trade a raise for extra vacation (66%, compared to millennials at 54%, Gen X at 41% and baby boomers at 36%).
This isn’t theoretical. It’s happening now. Canadians are aligning time off with their health goals: most will opt for a short local break or staycation (40%) in 2026, while 29% will choose a proper vacation or getaway and 11% will unplug with a digital detox. Unfortunately, for one in five (20%), no pause is possible.
Even with rising costs, the majority (71%) say they don’t feel guilty for booking time away. Among men, that confidence climbs to 76%. It seems that Canadians are done apologizing for taking a well-deserved break.
Redefining wellness: Beyond the spa
Wellness travel isn’t one-size-fits-all. While wellness tourism has exploded globally, only 10% of Canadian travel intenders would choose an experience focused solely on activities like meditation, yoga and spa treatments. Instead, they’re after vacations that feel restful and restorative to them, with many craving a major dose of vitamin D, fresh air, deep connection and meaningful moments.
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