The Power of Youth Travel: Enhancing Opportunities for Students and Young Travelers
Youth travel plays a vital role in personal and professional growth, contributing over $182 billion to international tourism. It educates and fosters cultural exchange, impacting our global community positively. The New Horizons III survey provides insights into youth travel trends, motivations, and preferences. Destinations can attract young travelers by improving visa processes, providing essential online information, and enhancing connectivity and accessibility. Understanding the unique characteristics of this demographic is crucial for destinations aiming to thrive in the youth travel market.
The Power of Youth Travel: Enhancing Opportunities for Students and Young Travelers
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Presentation Transcript
THE POWER OF YOUTH TRAVELHow destinations can support the growth of youth, student and educational travelBy David Chapman Director General – WYSE Travel ConfederationPresenting the findings of the NEW Horizons lll survey
WHO ARE WE? • To contribute to the personal and professional growth of students and young people and positively impact our global community by fostering international understanding, responsible international travel, cultural exchange and education • 500+ member organisations from 120 countries • Trading & Networking • Research • Education • Representation • International conference
THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUTH TRAVEL • Represents over 20% of international arrivals • Generated $182bn in international tourism receipts in 2012 • Young people are the future of travel • UNWTO estimates an increase from 200 million international youth trips to date to 300 million by 2020
Putting the spend into context: World’s top 5 football clubs $7.1bn Facebook’s market value $13.1bn McDonald’s market value $99.5bn Annual budget Argentinian gov’t $105.8bn Youth Travel $182bn
NEW HORIZONS lll • The only longitudinal global study of youth travel • Surveys every 5 years since 2002 • Expanding geographical coverage • Sample size:
A DECADE OF TRENDS • Staying young longer • Travelling more often, further away • Spending more of their parent’s money • Living life online • Growing information hunger • Being far away, but keeping in touch with home • The decline of the backpacker, the rise of the flashpacker
What can destinations do to attract this market? • Visas and other border controls • Information is king! • Destination website information • Understand the age and motivations of your market • On line booking • WiFi availability • User generated content • Social media