Taleb Rifai, secretary-general of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) , will open this year’s World Youth Student and Educational Travel Confederation conference in Barcelona, September 20-23.
Robin Wicks, director-General of WYSE Travel Confederation, said there was potential for governments and tourism organisations to increase their engagement “with this valuable market segment to significant mutual benefit and we will launch our initiative at WYSTC 2011â€.
The youth and student travel market accounted for 20 percent of international arrivals in 2010, generating receipts of US$165 billion.
“Much of this money remains with locally owned businesses and communities, contributing to poverty alleviation and sustainable economic development,†Wicks said.
