Four in 10 adults name-drop the countries they have visited - to ‘keep up with the Joneses’.
A poll of 2,000 travellers revealed 43 per cent enjoy comparing the number of destinations they've visited abroad with others.
Reasons for mentioning their ‘country count’ include wanting to impress others with their worldliness and sense of adventure, get others to think ‘that’s more than me’ or see them as ‘loaded’ with money.
Of those who mention their country count, more than four in 10 (44 per cent) will casually raise the subject in general holiday chatter, while 38 per cent will jump at the chance to name a nation they’ve visited the second someone else mentions it.
It also emerged 34 per cent of travellers consider their list of countries visited ‘as a bit of a badge of honour’ and a fifth feel ‘quietly superior’ to those who have been to fewer nations.
A spokesperson from travel insurance specialist, Staysure, which commissioned the research and tailors’ policies for people with health conditions, said: “Travelling abroad is exciting and the memories made with friends and family can last forever.
“So, it’s not surprising people love talking about where they’ve been and comparing the number of countries they’ve visited
“Sharing experiences is something we all love to do and it’s great to be able to inspire others to visit somewhere new
The study also found nearly one in 10 (nine per cent) bring up a country they’ve travelled to in conversation at least four times a month.
However, 39 per cent described other people discussing how well-travelled they are as ‘annoying’.
But one in 10 attempt to sound better travelled than they really are by counting countries they visited as a child in their list. And some go as far as including an airport layover or counting a day trip as a full visit.
With the average traveller having been to seven countries by the time they’re 30 – the number nearly doubles to 15 by the time they reach the age of 60.
New Zealand (24 per cent), Japan (23 per cent) and Australia (18 per cent) were at the top of respondents’ wish lists, along with Iceland, Sweden and Switzerland.
While Canada was nearly twice as popular as a future destination than the United States (17 per cent versus eight per cent).
But Belgium sat at the bottom of the top 50 list of countries people want to visit for the first time.
It also emerged 56 per cent of those polled, via OnePoll, wish they were better travelled.
On average, respondents said their travel peaked at age 34, while 44 per cent admitted their trips abroad have generally decreased as they’ve got older.
And four in 10 consider it important that their list of countries visited keeps growing, with those with a set goal aiming to tick off 30 individual countries.
To keep expanding the list 56 per cent would consider a multi-destination holiday such as a cruise.
France (77 per cent), Spain (76 per cent) and Italy (58 per cent) are still among the top ten countries visited.
Staysure’s spokesperson, added: “Our customers often share where they’ve been and where they’re planning to go next.
“It’s good to know people are dreaming big and want to keep ticking off their dream destinations.
“Although technically correct to do so, would you include a layover in your country list if you’d not set foot outside the airport?
“Wherever people choose to travel, having the right cover and financial protection in place helps them keep ticking countries off their list making the whole experience more enjoyable and worry-free.”
TOP 50 COUNTRIES VISITED
1. France
2. Spain
3. Italy
4. United States
5. Germany
6. Greece
7. Portugal
8. Belgium
9. Netherlands
10. Republic of Ireland
11. Turkey
12. Switzerland
13. Austria
14. Cyprus
15. Canada
16. Denmark
17. Czech Republic
18. Egypt
19. Croatia
20. Australia
21. Sweden
22. Norway
23. Poland
24. Mexico
25. Morocco
26. Thailand
27. Tunisia
28. Singapore
29. Hungary
30. United Arab Emirates
31. Iceland
32. China
33. Finland
34. New Zealand
35. South Africa
36. India
37. Malaysia
38. Japan
39. Kenya
40. Vietnam
41. Indonesia
42. Sri Lanka
43. Brazil
44. South Korea
45. Peru
46. Cambodia
47. Argentina
48. Philippines
49. Chile
50. Tanzania
TOP 50 COUNTRIES ON THE TRAVEL WISH LIST
1. New Zealand
2. Japan
3. Australia
4. Canada
5. Iceland
6. Norway
7. Italy
8. Switzerland
9. Sweden
10. United States
11. Thailand
12. Croatia
13. Greece
14. Portugal
15. Vietnam
16. Finland
17. Singapore
18. Brazil
19. Egypt
20. Denmark
21. South Africa
22. Austria
23. South Korea
24. Mexico
25. Republic of Ireland
26. India
27. Argentina
28. Peru
29. China
30. Morocco
31. Sri Lanka
32. Kenya
33. Netherlands
34. Germany
35. Poland
36. Philippines
37. Cyprus
38. Malaysia
39. United Arab Emirates
40. Turkey
41. Spain
42. Chile
43. France
44. Tanzania
45. Czech Republic
46. Hungary
47. Cambodia
48. Namibia
49. Indonesia
50. Belgium
