What are the things experts say about the 'sleep tourism' business, which offers trips for relaxing and sleeping?
While some people like to go out and travel on their days off, there are also people who want to rest and stay at home on their days off. ' Sleep tourism ' is a business that offers plans to help people sleep comfortably for those who want to get the most out of their days off, but sleep and nutrition experts explain that there are some things to be careful about when it comes to sleep tourism.
'Sleep tourism' promises the trip of your dreams. Beyond the hype plus 5 tips for a holiday at home
Sleep tourism businesses specializing in rest, relaxation, and sleep are popping up all over the world. For example, the Pullman Sydney Penrith hotel in western Sydney, Australia, places great importance on rest at the hotel, providing rooms with sleep therapy menus such as face masks, eye masks, aromatherapy, pillow options, and teas that promote sleep. The Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa in Switzerland also plans a 'sleep program' that includes yoga, meditation, nutritional advice, and sleep pattern analysis.
Sleep tourism is a growing trend in the wellness tourism industry, with Forbes reporting that the global market size is more than $800 billion (approximately 120 trillion yen). According to data provided by Statista , a German data collection platform, the market is expected to grow even more rapidly by 2027.
Charlotte Gupta, a senior doctoral researcher specializing in sleep and nutrition at Central Queensland University in Australia, points out that the reason for the sleep tourism epidemic may be 'a sign of how chronically sleep-deprived we all are.' According to Gupta, more than a third of adults do not get the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep. Lack of sleep leads to long-term health problems such as poor mental health and increased risk of heart disease, and it is estimated that lack of sleep costs 45 billion Australian dollars (about 4 trillion yen) per year.
Sleep tourism offers healthy habits that promote good quality sleep, such as sleeping in a sleep-optimized bedroom, sleeping in a quiet environment with a high-quality mattress and pillow, and relaxing before going to bed. According to Gupta, the act of staying in a hotel itself is likely to improve the quality of your sleep, as it allows you to get away from the stressors of everyday life.
On the other hand, Gupta also points out the pitfalls of sleep tourism. The human brain accumulates 'sleep pressure,' a biological urge to sleep, and when sleep pressure increases, people become sleepy and can fall into a deep, long sleep. When sleep deprivation continues, people face the stress of 'increased sleep pressure,' so experiencing comfortable sleep through sleep tourism reduces short-term stress. However, it is only the accumulated sleep pressure that is relieved, and the effects of lack of sleep on the brain and body cannot be reversed. Some research suggests that 'sleeping in' to eliminate lack of sleep has a certain effect, but does not compensate for it.
Experts say the effect of 'sleep-saving' is only temporary, and a 20-minute nap would be more effective - GIGAZINE
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Sleep tourism can only relieve temporary stress, but even if the purpose is to relieve stress, it may not be appropriate in some cases. Our bodies do not like large changes in sleep time, so if a good night's sleep on the weekend creates a gap with weekday sleep, it can actually cause 'social jet lag' and make you feel unwell.
Therefore, if your goal is to get some rest, it's important not only to sleep well on your days off like in sleep tourism, but also to create an environment that allows you to get enough sleep consistently every night, Gupta concludes. Here are five tips for taking a sleep holiday at home:
- Avoid bright artificial light at night, such as bright lights, smartphones, and PCs
Make your bed comfortable with clean pillows and a supportive mattress
- Blackout curtains block out outside light and keep the room cool
Establish a relaxation routine, such as taking a warm shower and reading a book before bed.
The key to good sleep habits is consistency, so aim to go to bed and wake up at the same time on weekdays and weekends.
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