2012 - Year of the Digital Detox
A new digital detox (de-tech) holiday is being launched in St Vincent and The Grenadines as consumer research reveals that 77% of people believe that time without gadgets and technology would liberate them, improve their relationships, make them a better person and give them more time for their loved ones.
So great is the need for help, that a new de-tech holiday is being launched in St Vincent and The Grenadines by bespoke travel company Black Tomato. The holiday is designed to completely wean people off their technology – literally going cold-turkey on the beach. It includes a guide to “de-teching” and a session with a life-coach (createyourself.co.uk) before jetting off to the idyllic islands that have no TVs in the rooms and discourage the use of technology on their stunning beaches. Those who have less self-discipline but deeper pockets can take the lifecoach with them for daily counselling sessions and to guide and support them through the process.
The launch of the de-tech holiday comes on the back of consumer research revealing the extraordinary extent of our dependence on technology:
26% spend more than five hours a day using technology, including mobiles
40.8 % agree or strongly agree that their use of gadgets and technology puts stress on their personal relationships
48.7% feel so tied down by technology that they literally can’t ignore an email or text
44.8 % agree or strongly agree that they now feel their concentration is compromised and they find it difficult to focus on one thing at a time
When asked what the impact of substituting real human contact with technology is 58% said reduced social skills, 29.1% said smaller social circles and 34.8% said poorer relationships with loved ones.
Despite “quality time with family” and “being away from the hassles of work life” being the two most important aspects of holidays, 31 % of people took at least two gadgets on holiday.
38% said they could survive for a day or less without their mobile phones or gadgets.
82 % said they would feel insecure, naked or out of touch with the world if they didn’t have their gadgets with them. However 77% acknowledged that it would liberate them, improve their relationships, make them a better person and give them more time for their loved ones.
The launch of the new detech holiday should be welcomed by the 17.2 % of consumers who said their New Year’s resolution will be to go on an amazing holiday or become less dependent on technology. The seven night holiday includes three nights at Young Island and four nights at Palm Island in St Vincent and The Grenadines on a full-board basis, flights, private transfers including a private catamaran transfer between islands, a printed version of the detech guide to take with you and a one-hour session with a life-coach before leaving. Prices from £2,967 per person based on two-sharing. For the full de-tech experience, take a lifecoach with you for an additional £8,943.
Further information on the de-tech holiday from blacktomato.co.uk plus information on St Vincent and The Grenadines from discoversvg.com.