For a week-long trip to North America or Europe, your expenses could start with RM3,000 on food and souvenirs, RM3,000 on hotels, RM3,000 on public transport and interstate travel, RM2,000 on local attraction entrance fees, RM3,000 on local guides, and RM6,000 for a roundtrip flight plus travel insurance per person. While you may reduce certain prices with careful planning, overseas vacations can be extremely expensive, seemingly the opposite of a savvy investment. However, does this always have to be the case?
As an international business that has experienced first-hand how different people and businesses can be across the ocean, we at PEGH strongly believe that your overseas adventures could be an unforgettable investment in the future, given the right perspective and mindset. Here’s how:
An Active Adventure versus Passive Vacation
Rest is important, but we don’t encourage travelling to distant places just to sit on a resort bench and isolate yourself from locals. Every moment on foreign soil is precious, so we encourage you to explore and engage with as many people and experiences as possible.
Building Meaningful Connections with Locals
Business is about making the right connections, and being overseas is a goldmine of opportunities to learn and start mutually beneficial relationships. For instance, you may find that European locals crave exotic and spicy foods but have limited access due to an unfavourable agricultural landscape. As a Malaysian, this insight could provide an opportunity to supply local chillies to restaurants at higher prices.
Embracing new cultural bonds while exploring the world
Ideas to Bring Home
Travelling and experiencing local culture allows you to see what others do differently and how you can bring some of those business models back home. Whether it’s a lesser-known cuisine Malaysians would love, a fashion brand using resources abundant in Malaysia, or a franchising opportunity, being overseas lets you see what works and how to replicate that success at home.
An Investment in Your Mental Wellbeing
While scouting for business opportunities and finding the right partners can be challenging, one universally accepted truth about travel is its benefit to mental health and overall wellbeing. Business analysts, psychologists, and researchers agree that travel can reduce stress and anxiety accumulated from work. Engaging our minds creatively in a lower-stress environment overseas enhances our brain’s performance and productivity once we return to the office.
Investing Back in Familiar Faces
Remember the RM3,000 allocated for food and souvenirs? As Malaysians, we love to shop for our family, friends, and colleagues while away. This act of generosity helps foster stronger relationships with those close to us, making it one of the strongest investment rewards from your overseas travel.
Next time you plan a trip abroad, align your perspective on what you could gain from your adventures, not just spiritually but also in terms of business ideas and perspectives that could transform your financial landscape for the better.
