Youth tourism spotlights benefits of $165bn market

Thursday, 18 Jul, 2011 0

UNWTO Secretary-General to Attend World Youth and Student Travel Conference 2011 Barcelona

The World Youth Student and Educational Travel Confederation has announced that Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, will attend this year's conference in Barcelona, 20-23 September.

The Secretary-General will open the World Youth and Student Travel Conference (WYSTC). Now in its 20th year, the conference constantly adapts to understand and explore the ever-changing characteristics, motivations and needs of young travellers and the industry that supports them.

"Mr. Rifai's attendance at our conference is extremely welcome and re-affirms the importance of our cooperation and belief that the youth travel industry plays an increasingly vital role in the development of global tourism." said Robin Wicks, Director-General of WYSE Travel Confederation.

It is the shared intention of UNWTO and WYSE Travel Confederation to spotlight the significant social and economic value of the youth travel sector to governments, official tourism organisations and destinations worldwide.

We believe there is 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 2011.

The youth and student travel market accounted for twenty percent of international arrivals in 2010, generating receipts of 165 billion USD. Much of this money remains with locally owned businesses and communities contributing to poverty alleviation and sustainable economic development.

Valere Tjolle
Valere is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite 2011 Special Offers HERE

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Valere

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