A new survey in the US shows the average spent by young people on a trip abroad is now US$2,600, a 39% rise since 2002.
That’s a rate of 8%, which is more than inflation and slightly higher than the growth in travel expenditures across the population, says the World Youth Student & Educational Travel Confederation (WYSE).
“Overall, the global youth travel market will be worth US$154 billion this year,” the group says.
The report, which updates a WYSE study conducted five years ago, also shows young travelers are early adopters of new travel technology, with more than 80% now using the internet to search for information before departing on their trip, up from 70% in 2002.
When asked what were the most valuable features of travel Web sites, respondents said the ability to compare prices and the availability of information about destinations, both of which were cited by over 80%. Less than 60% identified the ability to book their entire trip on the same website or the ability to save their enquiry on the site as valuable.
WYSE is a not-for-profit organization set up in 2006 by the International Student Travel Confederation and the Federation of Youth Travel Organizations.
It comprises 550+ members representing the global community of youth travel, student travel, cultural exchange and international education specialists.
Report by David Wilkening
