The Benefits of a Passport

PHOTO: A passport can be a powerful instrument, beyond crossing borders. (photo courtesy of Thinkstock)

It turns out that a passport does much more than open the door to new destinations.

Hilton Hotels & Resorts’ Passport Project recently set out to uncover the less obvious benefits of holding a valid passport and the results may surprise you.

Despite the fact that 41 percent, or two out of five, Americans possess a valid passport, passport holders admit to being more content than domestic travelers.

According to Hilton’s research, 53 percent of passport holders say they are content with their lives just as they are, compared to only 34 percent of non-passport holders. Additionally, 34 percent of married travelers said traveling internationally helped them deepen their relationship.

Having a passport can also impact how travelers are perceived by others. Based on the study, more than three-quarters of Americans believe international travelers are different than those who don’t venture across borders.

Nearly one-third think passport holders are more fun, while one-quarter believe they are more creative. Seven percent of Americans also consider international travelers sexier than non-passport holders.

Traveling abroad is a surefire way to expand one’s horizons. Therefore, it comes as little surprise that two-thirds of Americans consider international travel to be as valuable as a college education. A majority of passport holders who have recently traveled internationally say doing so has given them opportunities they wouldn’t have otherwise and a deeper understanding of the world at large.

More than one-third also say having a passport has led to making new international friends and to feel a sense of accomplishment. One out of five international travelers has even developed a potential romantic connection while abroad.

Interestingly, the research shows that almost half of passport holders would think twice about dating or marrying someone without a passport. Perhaps because 69 percent have admitted to catching the “travel bug” from their first international trip.

In addition to meeting new people and breaking from a mundane routine, international travelers stand to take in new sights, broaden their perspective and learn about other cultures through immersive experiences when they travel outside of their home country.

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