Indias Generation Y is vacation deprived: Study

However, 35 per cent of those surveyed were not able to take more than 15 days of annual leave in a year.

Interestingly, over 22 per cent Indians said that their bosses were not supportive of employees taking all of their annual leaves.

On an average, Indians are entitled to 26 annual leave days but are able to take an average of 22 days leave annually, found the survey conducted by Expedia amongst the service class professionals at managerial levels and above in 11 countries in December 2010 with over 1000 respondents per country.

In the survey, Japan led the group of vacation deprived nations followed by USA (14 days) and Australia (16.5 days).

Japan emerged as the most holiday-deprived nation for the second consecutive year with an average 16.5 days annual leave. However, 94 per cent of Japanese do not take all their leave days, taking on average only nine days of their entitled annual leave days.

On the other hand, in France which ranks as the world`s most holiday-rich nation, the average employee gets 37.5 annual leave days per year but takes an average 34.5 of those days. France was followed by Spain (28.5 days), Denmark and Italy (26.5 days), Norway (26), Sweden and Britain (25 days).

In India, the survey was conducted in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore for the first time by Expedia.

The survey also found that for over 50 per cent Indian respondents, their official e-mails and messages during vacation -- were the main reasons for spoiling their holidays.

It was also revealed that Indians showed greater orientation towards family holidays. Over 18 per cent respondents did not take their vacations because their spouse or children were not getting leave at the same time.

Interestingly, when it comes to decide between money and holidays, Delhiites consider `life = work`, preferring monetary benefits over holidays, the survey found.

Nearly 43 per cent Delhiites considered work as their life, while 23 per cent of Bangaloreans and 13 per cent Mumbaikars feel the same way.

About 82 per cent Delhiites work more than 40 hours a week followed by 52 per cent Mumbaikars and 40 per cent Bangaloreans.

More than the reaction from their boss, Delhiites are concerned about their leaves impacting their family, with 31 per cent feeling that taking vacation might negatively affect their spouse or partner or family member`s job.

Also for 39 per cent Delhiites, children’s education turned out to be the main reason for not taking vacation while only 22 per cent Mumbaikars and 19 per cent Bangaloreans gave the same reason.

About 41 per cent Delhiites want to encash their leaves, which is quite high as compared to only 32 per cent Bangaloreans and 22 per cent Mumbaikars.

However, when it comes to travel, Delhiites are significantly more adventurous as compared to their counterparts in Mumbai or Bangaloreans.

Over 38 per cent Delhiites want to try new places for their vacation followed by 34 per cent Bangaloreans and 19 per cent Mumbaikars.

"This is the first time that we have undertaken the annual Vacation Deprivation survey in India. The study provides interesting insights into the key factors discouraging most Indians from taking their vacation; lack of choice and flexibility in the holiday offers emerged as one such factor," said Manmeet Ahluwalia, Marketing Head for Expedia.co.in.

This was the tenth year of the Expedia Vacation Deprivation survey, an annual survey which spotlights the growing trend of employed workers not taking all of their holidays.

In the 2010, Vacation Deprivation survey, holiday habits were analysed among employed workers in 13 countries, namely the US, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany, France, Spain and Italy.