Wandermust: Scoot wants to prove that travel is in our blood

Singaporean airline, Scoot, has partnered with a genetics expert to prove how travel is in our blood and explain how we can reach the full potential of our nature.

After recently launching its third long-haul destination with non-stop flights from Singapore to Berlin, the low-cost carrier, Scoot, continues to grow at a steady pace. And now, the company has turned to science to dig deeper into the human DNA.

Through a partnership with a world-renowned expert in genetics, human biology and neuroscience, Dr Richard Paul Ebstein of the National University of Singapore, the airline aims to prove how travel is part of our blood. This is an industry-first experiment to show that to travel is not just a ‘want’ but in fact, a need – something that Scoot dubbed as ‘wandermust’.

“Our goal is to use science to show that travel is an intrinsic need, rather than just a luxury”

“With the Wandermust Experiment, our goal is to use science to show that travel is an intrinsic need, rather than just a luxury. By gaining deeper insights into the preferences and habits of our customers, we can continue working toward our goal of making travel attainable for everyone,” said Lee Lik Hsin, CEO of Scoot. “This partnership with Dr Ebstein also reinforces our commitment to continuously empower consumers so they can fully embrace their Wandermust.”

In the experiment, Dr Ebstein will look into the role of genetics as well as the impact of cultural influences on the human travel behaviour. Dr Ebstein has extensively studied the DRD4-2/7R gene (carried by approximately 20% of the population) and its link to novelty-seeking behaviours such as travelling.

Is travel in your blood?

Now, to find out the truth about this wandermust theory, Scoot is looking for travellers who are willing to volunteer to be part of this experiment. By being part of the research, participants will discover if travel is indeed in their blood, and also get a chance to win 100,000 KrisFlyer miles.

“I’m excited to hear from the seasoned travellers from around the world – to better understand their nature and especially their innate need to travel through the Wandermust Experiment”, said Dr Ebstein. “It’s encouraging to see that an airline like Scoot is pioneering in showing how travel might be in our blood using cutting-edge molecular genetic tools.”

Aside from volunteers, a number of employees from Scoot will be participating to determine their own genetic predisposition to travel. Visit www.flyscoot.com/Wandermust for more details.