World-wide study of youth travel market

The World Youth Student and Educational (WYSE) Travel Confederation announced that Hostelling International (HI) is a new partner of its global study of youth and student travel, New Horizons.

“This partnership is one of the ways Hostelling International clearly demonstrates their commitment to understanding the needs and wants of today’s young travelers,” said David Chapman, Director General of WYSE Travel Confederation. “WYSE is pleased that Hostelling International will support this very important study.”

The winner of this prize drawing will certainly have their pick from some of the most inspiring and unusual places in the world. A jumbo jet in Stockholm, California lighthouse, and boat in Budapest are just a few of the unique accommodation experiences HI has available across 81 countries on 5 continents. Hostelling International first began in 1932 to coordinate Youth Hostel Associations worldwide. Today, HI is one of the world’s largest international membership organizations with more than 3.7 million members.

“We don’t do it for profit, but to offer our guests the chance to experience meaningful interactions with local communities, in ways that enrich young people and encourage mutual understanding. We share our passion for traveling and responsible tourism – meeting new people and learning about ourselves in the process,” said Rebecca O’Connor, Head of Partnerships for Hostelling International.

New Horizons is the only recurring global survey of the youth travel segment. The aim of the study is to provide a global overview of the youth and student travel market, which WYSE Travel Confederation and UNWTO have estimated to account for more than 280 million international arrivals in 2016.

Last conducted by WYSE Travel Confederation in 2012 and generating more than 34,000 responses from 137 countries, New Horizons discovered that on average the youth and student traveler spent just under EUR 3,000 for his/her last main international trip – a growth of 40% since the 2007 survey.

Suppliers of travel products tailored to the youth and student traveler are invited to participate in the fourth New Horizons study. More information is available here.

Hostelling International is offering a free 3-night stay for 2 people at one of their 4,000 hostels worldwide to a lucky respondent of the New Horizons survey.

eTN is a media partner for WYSTC.