Escaping Reality or Discovering Truth? What Is the Purpose of Travel? ( Travel Is Trending—But Why Are We Really Doing It?)
Travel has become the ultimate status symbol. From Instagram reels of beach resorts in Zanzibar to “Japa” dreams of relocating to Canada, Nigerians are obsessed with movement.
But beyond the visa queues, airport selfies, and “soft life” aesthetics, one question remains: What is the actual purpose of travel?
Is it just for fun, for bragging rights or is there a deeper, more personal reason we’re skipping cities, countries, and continents?
This article takes a bold, honest look at the modern obsession with travel and uncovers the real reasons people hit the road and the uncomfortable truths they often ignore.
Travel: Historically a Privilege, Now a Performance?
In the past, travel was a necessity traders, missionaries, war survivors, and scholars moved from place to place with clear intent. But today, travel has become performance art, especially on social media.
Young Nigerians now measure personal success by how many countries they’ve “touched.” A trip to Cape Town is no longer about the experience; it’s about the photo evidence.
This shift raises a controversial question:
Are we traveling to grow, or just to escape or worse, impress?
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Common Purposes of Travel (The Real Ones)
Let’s strip away the filters and get real about why people truly travel.
1. To Escape Pressure and Burnout
With Nigeria’s high unemployment, inflation, and endless pressure to “make it,” many people use travel as an escape route. Whether it’s a weekend in Ghana or full-on migration to the UK, people just want relief.
Is that wrong? Not at all. But if your only reason to travel is to run away from problems, they might just follow you.
2. To Discover New Cultures
This is the noble side of travel. Exploring new languages, foods, traditions, and beliefs opens your mind. A trip to Kenya or Morocco can make you rethink what it means to be African.
But let’s be honest: most “travelers” today barely leave their resort or Airbnb. They eat jollof rice in Dubai and search for suya in Turkey. That’s not cultural discovery it’s relocation with a side of tourism.
3. To Find Yourself
Many people travel to “find themselves,” especially in their 20s or after a life crisis. Solo trips, spiritual retreats, or just being in a new environment can give clarity.
But here’s the twist: you can’t find yourself if you never lost yourself. Travel won’t fix what you avoid dealing with emotionally.
4. For Social Currency
This is the one most won’t admit.
Posting travel photos brings likes, admiration, and even envy. Many travel just to say “I was there.” No judgment but it’s time we admit that for some, the purpose of travel isn’t exploration, it’s validation.
The Travel Lie: “You’ll Be Happier Somewhere Else”
A dangerous lie many Nigerians believe is that happiness lives abroad. That the moment you land in the UK, US, or Canada, your problems vanish.
But relocation without preparation often leads to a different kind of suffering loneliness, racism, depression, or overwork in a foreign system that doesn’t value you.
Yes, there are more opportunities abroad. But there are also emotional and cultural costs that influencers rarely talk about.
So, What Should Be the Purpose of Travel?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but the purpose of travel should ideally be growth whether personal, emotional, spiritual, or intellectual.
Ask yourself:
- Am I traveling to escape or expand?
- Am I open to new experiences, or am I just looking for comfort in another location?
- Am I consuming a new culture or respecting and learning from it?
Nigerian Travel Culture: Copying or Evolving?
Let’s be real much of Nigerian travel culture is copycat behavior.
One influencer posts Maldives, and suddenly everyone wants to go. Another relocates to Germany and preaches “Japa” like it’s a religion.
We’re rarely taught to travel with purpose. It’s always:
- “Go where the money is.”
- “Go where the vibes are.”
- “Go where others went.”
But real travel is not about copying, it’s about connecting with new places and with parts of yourself you never knew existed.
Controversial Thought: You Don’t Have to Travel
Here’s something you won’t hear from influencers:
You don’t need to travel to live a full life.
Some of the happiest, most fulfilled people in the world have never boarded a plane. If your travel is fueled by FOMO (fear of missing out), you’re already missing the point.
Growth, peace, and purpose can be found wherever you are—if you’re willing to look inward, not just outward.
Whatsnextng Thoughts: Travel With Intention, Not Just a Passport
Travel can be beautiful. Life-changing. Transformative. But only if you do it with intention.
Human-Written Summary:
The article explores the true purpose of travel, challenging the modern obsession with using travel as a status symbol or form of escape. While many Nigerians today travel to escape hardship, gain social media clout, or chase the “soft life” dream, the piece argues that travel should be more intentional rooted in personal growth, cultural discovery, and self-reflection.
It critiques the trend of superficial travel for likes and questions whether happiness really lies abroad, especially with the rising wave of migration (Japa culture). The article emphasizes that travel is valuable only when done with clear purpose not as a way to run from problems or copy others.
Ultimately, we encourages readers to reflect deeply before traveling, reminding them that fulfillment can be found within, not just in new locations.
Don’t let Instagram pressure you into travel debt.
OR let relocation fantasies make you hate your current journey.
Don’t trade one form of stress for another just because it’s in a different time zone.
Ask yourself before you book that flight:
“Am I running toward something or just running away?”
FAQ – What Is the Purpose of Travel?
Q: Is travel necessary for personal growth?
A: It can help, but it’s not the only path to growth. Reflection and purpose matter more than location.
Q: Is traveling for enjoyment a valid purpose?
A: Yes! Joy is a great reason to travel—just make sure it’s for you, not for social media.
Q: What’s wrong with escaping your current life through travel?
A: Escaping can offer relief, but if it becomes your only coping tool, it may delay deeper healing.
Q: Can travel help mental health?
A: In some cases, yes. New environments can boost mood but they’re not a substitute for therapy or support systems.
What’s Next, NG?
Travel but travel wisely. Let it teach you, stretch you, and humble you. Don’t just collect stamps collect purpose.
#TravelWithIntention #WhatsNextNG #PurposefulLiving
