Youth Travel
Setting Trends for Responsible Travel
David JonesFormer Director General,
The World Youth, Student & Educational (WYSE) Travel Confederation
WYSE Travel Confederation
• The global community of youth travel, student travel, cultural exchange and international education specialists – created by student unions in 1949
• 550 members active in 121 countries• Serving 10 million young travellers each year• WYSTC 2011: 1,000 youth travel professionals,
Barcelona, September 20 -23
Mission: “to increase international understanding through the promotion of travel and education opportunities for students and youth”.
Youth Travel - The Global Market
• 200 million/yr | USD 190 billion | 20% of travellers• Stay longer, spend more • Ambitious - mix travel with experiential learning • Important to: destinations, the tourism industry agenda,
national state objectives
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
Yo u th to u rism arriva ls
(m ill io n )
2002 2006 2010 2020
Not a ‘Tourist’
• Self identify as “not a tourist”• Travel with purpose – to explore new cultures and
environments• Respect for the people and
places they visit• Concerned, aware, receptive
to responsible travel practicesand sustainability
Backpacker25%
Traveller46%
Tourist23%
Other6%
Responsible Travel Habits- make a contribution -
• Carbon footprint 10% that of a business traveller• Get off the ‘beaten track’, travel, eat and sleep close to
local communities – average Asian trip is 92 days• Less ‘leakage’ of their spend • Contribute to poverty alleviation• Seek sustainable programmes
and services
Set Travel Trends
• Mix leisure travel with experiential learning• Growth in community service and volunteering• New growth in Higher Education/Study Abroad• The ‘pioneers’ of today’s top Asian destinations• Connected with a vast online network - valuable tourism
‘ambassadors’ for destinations
Adventure | Volunteer | International Education | Work Abroad Language Cultural Exchange | Flights | Hostels | Student Identity (ISIC) Insurance |
Home Stay Au Pair | Heritage | Internship
Serving the Youth Market
• Provide specialised products and services that cater to their unique ‘travel with purpose’ needs
• Engage with the market through their social networks - before and after they travel
• Demonstrate sustainability in your programmes and services, promote responsible travel habits
• Join the global network of youth travel providers and attend WYSTC www.wystc.org
Creates Responsible Travellers“If you have travelled as a ‘young independent traveller’ (backpacker, study or
work abroad, exchange student, volunteer work), what impact has this had on your perception of the following?”*
Significant impact
• Your respect for other cultures 92%• Your career choice 80%• Tendency to travel independently 83%• Developing positive personal values and ethics 82%• Responsible travel habits 78%• Interest in social justice, poverty, peace 73%• Your overall lifestyle 72%* Travellers Pulse, Lonely Planet 2005
“New Horizons” is the benchmark research study into the motivations and characteristics of young, independent travellers
New Horizons II 2007 (8,500+ young travellers)Available at www.wysetc.org
‘Youth Travel Matters’UNWTO Compendium of 7 studieson youth travel (May 2008)Available at www.unwto.org
Youth Travel Research
‘Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by - and that has made all the difference’
Robert Frost
David Jones: [email protected]
WYSE Travel Confederation: www.wysetc.orgContact:
Robin Wicks, Director [email protected]
