Page 20 - TBM_October_2024

PERSPECTIVE
20 TRAVELBIZ MONITOR OCTOBER, 2024
n

Goodbye FOMO, Hello JOMO!

Embracing the joy of missing out in travel!!

By Dr Nimit Chowdhary, Professor and Head (Tourism), Faculty of Management Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia

aya, a young professional from a park and observing the world around them.
Mumbai, finally saved up enough These moments of mindfulness can make a
for her dream trip to Paris. trip feel more meaningful and fulfilling.
MArmed with a detailed itinerary
and a smartphone full of Instagram spots, Joy in the journey: How JOMO keeps
she was determined to experience each and one young!
everything the City of Lights had to offer. Interestingly, the concept of JOMO aligns
Maya packed her days with back-to-back with a recent study linking travel to
activities, from sunrise at the Eiffel Tower to slowing the ageing process. By embracing
late-night strolls along the Seine. She barely mindfulness and avoiding stress-inducing,
slept, constantly checked her phone for the packed itineraries, JOMO travellers focus on
next “must-see” location, and spent most of meaningful experiences, which can enhance
her time snapping photos instead of soaking mental and physical well-being. Positive travel
in the atmosphere. By the end of the trip, experiences, such as Aditi’s relaxed approach,
Maya had checked off every item on her list contribute to improved health by reducing
but returned home feeling more exhausted stress and promoting emotional connection,
than fulfilled. potentially slowing the entropy increase
Meet Aditi, a friend of Maya who visited associated with ageing. Thus, JOMO may
Paris a few months later. Unlike Maya, Aditi is okay to truly enjoy others. They focus on support the benefits outlined in the study.
had a different idea. She had a few places she quality over quantity, choosing to immerse
really wanted to see but left the rest of her themselves in a few meaningful experiences Ditch the itinerary and discover joy!
time open for exploration. One day, she spent rather than trying to do it all. In today’s whirlwind world, FOMO can hijack
hours in a small, cozy café sipping coffee and your wanderlust. But what if you broke free
chatting with the owner about life in Paris. In no hurry! Travelling on your own from the chaos? Embracing JOMO reveals
Another day, she wandered through the city’s terms!! a liberating truth: less is more. Surrender
quiet neighborhoods, stumbling upon hidden So, what sets JOMO travellers apart from to the unknown, and authentic experiences
parks and local markets, making sense of FOMO seekers? unfold. Your travels transform into heartfelt
how Parisians live. Aditi didn’t feel the need Less stress, more enjoyment: When tales, etched in your soul, not just your social
to see everything or post constant updates on you’re not trying to do everything, you can media feed.
social media. Instead, she embraced the joy actually enjoy what you’re doing. JOMO So, ditch the checklist and collect
of missing out (JOMO) on the non-essentials, travellers are less likely to feel stressed or moments that breathe. Return home with a
focusing on what truly mattered to her. When burned out because they’re not constantly heart full of stories, not just souvenirs. Travel
she returned home, Aditi felt relaxed, content, rushing from one activity to the next. They deeper, not farther.
and deeply connected to her experiences in take their time and savour each experience. “Travel isn’t about collecting places;
Paris. Deeper connections: JOMO travellers it’s about discovering moments that stay
have the time to form deeper connections with you long after the journey ends.”
The checklist chaos: Doing it all, with the places they visit and the people they
enjoying it none! meet. Whether it’s making friends with a local ‘The views expressed in the column are of the
FOMO, or Fear of Missing Out, is a mindset shop owner or spending an afternoon talking author, and may or may not be endorsed by the
many travellers experience today. It’s that to a fellow traveller, these moments often publication.’
nagging feeling that you’ll miss out on become the most cherished memories.
something amazing if you don’t do it all. That Authentic experiences: FOMO
you are here for the first and perhaps the last travellers often rush to popular tourist spots Dr. Nimit Chowdhary, a distinguished Professor and
time and must see it all. FOMO travellers, commoditised in tourist bubbles. In contrast, Head of the Department of Tourism and Hospitality
like Maya, often cram their schedules with JOMO travellers are more likely to explore Management at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, brings
as many activities as possible. They’re driven off-the-beaten-path locations. This leads to over 30 years of teaching expertise to the table. With 18
years as a professor across India, China, and Mexico,
by the desire to see and do everything, often more authentic experiences, like discovering Dr. Chowdhary has also enriched minds as a visiting
influenced by social media, where everyone a hidden beach, witnessing a nonchalant faculty at renowned institutions including the University of
seems to be living their best lives in exotic event, or stumbling upon a local festival that Gotland (Sweden), Girona University (Spain), IIM Sirmaur,
locations. isn’t mentioned in any guidebook. IIQM, and EDII. Celebrated for his academic excellence,
Mindfulness: JOMO travellers practice he has penned 30 books and over 300 scholarly
Where less is more: Unplanned, mindfulness, being fully present in the papers, articles, and chapters, and has guided 23 PhD
unscripted, unforgettable!! moment to meet the unforeseen, the candidates. A globetrotter who has explored more than
Look at the opposite mindset: JOMO, or the unscripted, unencumbered. This might mean 40 countries, Dr. Chowdhary is a recognized authority in
Joy of Missing Out. JOMO travellers like enjoying a sunset without worrying about the field of tourism.
Aditi understand that skipping some things getting the perfect photo or sitting quietly in

WWW.TRAVELBIZMONITOR.COM