New Horizons Ii: The Young Independent Traveller 2007

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New Horizons II
The Young Independent Traveller
2007
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New Horizons II
The Young Independent Traveller
2007
Research Programme
WYSE Travel Confederation is

committed to understanding the
ever changing characteristics,
motivations, and needs of young
travellers.

The Confederation gathers,
analyses and shares important
research data and market
intelligence with its members,
academics, corporate and
government decision-makers,
and the general travelling public.

Our investment in research and
market intelligence informs the
policies, services and products
which make international travel
and educational experiences
exciting, safe, accessible and
affordable for young people.
For more information about

WYSE Travel Confederation’s
research programme, please
visit: www.wysetc.org. Go to the
“What we do” section, and click
on “Research & Publications.”
Author
Greg Richards
Year
2007
Title
New Horizons II – The Young
Independent Traveller, 2007
Publisher
WYSE Travel Confederation
Production
New Horizons 2 was produced
with fully sustainable materials,
using FSC paper and soy-based
inks
The New Horizons II – The Young Independent Traveller 2007 report updates a benchmark
study conducted in 2002 which identified the motivations and unique travel characteristics
of the millions strong global movement of young travellers. Through this updated study, WYSE
Travel Confederation endeavours to further advance an understanding of the unique travel
motivations, activities, booking and spending habits of young travellers.
This study concludes that travel is an increasingly important aspiration for young people around
the world. It shows that young people continue to identify themselves as ‘travellers’ rather than
tourists, and that they are exploring further, spending more, and demanding new types of
experiences to fulfil their desire to learn about and discover the world around them.
The global movement of young travellers generates exceptional financial, EUR 109 billion
annually, and social value. WYSE Travel Confederation is encouraged that the social value of
youth travel is becoming better understood by governments, industry and social sector
organisations around the world. Reports such as New Horizons II provide further evidence
that international travel experiences are an essential part of young people’s personal and
educational development, feeds their curiosity of other cultures, and contributes to the
“openness” that underpins international understanding.
WYSE Travel Confederation is proud that this report has been selected for inclusion in a
compendium of research on the student and youth travel market to be published by the United
Nations World Tourism Organization in November 2007.
I would like to thank the many members of WYSE Travel Confederation who helped collect the
data for this study. I would also like to thank Tobias Novogrodsky for overseeing the production
of this report. Finally, WYSE Travel Confederation wishes to extend a special thank you to Greg
Richards, the report’s lead author and researcher. Greg’s professional and personal interest in
this market has made him the world’s leading research authority on youth and student travel.
Over the past eight years, Greg’s commitment to quality research on this market has allowed
us to better understand and serve the needs of millions of young travellers.
David Jones
Director General
The World Youth Student & Educational (WYSE) Travel Confederation was created in 2006 by the world’s leading
youth and student travel organisations, the International Student Travel Confederation (ISTC) and the Federation
of Youth Travel Organisations (FIYTO).
WYSE Travel Confederation is a professionally managed not-for-profit organisation, comprising 550+ members,
representing the global community of youth travel, student travel, cultural exchange and international education
specialists.
The Confederation’s mission is “to increase international understanding through the promotion of travel and
educational opportunities for students and youth”.
With a network of 5000 locations in 118 countries, WYSE Travel Confederation members provide international
travel and educational experiences for more than 10 million students and youth each year.
New Horizons II - The Young Independent Traveller 2007
ContentS
4 Executive Summary
5 Methods and Profile Of Respondents
9 Travel Style and Identity

Why are young people and students travelling?
How much travel experience do they already have?
14 Planning The Trip

What factors were important in planning their trip?
What information sources do they use for planning their trip?
How do they book their travel, accommodation and activities?
Travel suppliers
Discount cards
21 On The Road

Where do they go?
What transport do they use?
Where do they stay?
How long do they stay?
How much do they spend?
What do they do on their travels?
What communication channels do they use during their trip?
32 Reflecting On The Trip

What do they gain from their travels?
34 Barriers To Travel
New Horizons II – The Young Independent Traveller 2007 WYSE Travel Confederation
Executive Summary
The WYSE Travel Confederation survey of independent travellers is designed to expand our
understanding of international youth and student travel, and test some of the widely held
notions about this market. Drawing on data from 8500+ survey responses, this report
provides insight into various dimensions and characteristics of international youth and
student travel from the point of view of those who participate in it: young people and students
themselves.
The survey was first conducted in 2002 with the support of the Association for Tourism and
Leisure Education (ATLAS) and then repeated in late 2006 and early 2007, allowing trends to
be measured for a number of key variables.
The results of the 2007 WYSE Travel Confederation Independent Traveller Survey underline
the dynamic and buoyant nature of the youth travel market.
In summary, this study reveals and confirms that young people are:
• Travelling more often
The average number of trips taken by young people has increased in the last five years.
• Exploring more destinations
Young people are taking more trips outside their own home region and exploring new areas of
the world.
• Spending more on travel
Average spending on a main trip abroad increased by almost 40% between 2002 and 2007 to
€1915, a higher rate of expenditure growth than the international travel market as a whole.
As a proportion of their total income, young people spend more than any other group on
international travel.
• Booking more over the Internet
Young travellers are early adopters of new travel technology. More than 80% of young
travellers now use the Internet to search for information before departing on their trip, and
the proportion of Internet searches converted into bookings has grown four-fold over the past
five years.
• Experience hungry
What young travellers want most of all from their travel is a range of different experiences,
often involving the everyday life and culture of the places they visit. Contacts with local people
are particularly important in this process. 70% of respondents travel with the purpose of
exploring, learning a language, volunteering, working and studying.
• Information hungry
Young travellers are consulting a growing number of information sources in planning their
trips, even though the average length of visit is falling.
• Intrepid travellers
Very few young travellers are deterred by problems such as terrorism, natural disasters or
epidemics. For them, travel is a way of life. A certain level of risk is a part of travel, even
though this can be minimised through careful planning.
WYSE Travel Confederation New Horizons II – The Young Independent Traveller 2007
• Getting a lot out of their travel
Travel experiences make young people want to travel even more. Contact with other people
and cultures stimulates young travellers to learn more and further develop themselves.
The experience of travel leads some young people to change their lifestyles, and is becoming
a lifestyle for many. 80% of respondents report that their travels have made them more
appreciative and tolerant of other cultures.
Methods
The surveys were conducted using mailing lists provided by members of WYSE Travel
Confederation in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. The email response questionnaire
generated over 2300 responses in 2002 and over 8500 in 2007. Most major world regions
were well represented in the 2007 survey, with the exception of Africa. In general, the
distribution of respondents matches the pattern of international youth tourism.
Figure 1: Distribution of survey responses by world region
Number Of Responses % Survey Respondents
Africa 70 0.8
Asia/Pacific 1453 17.0
North America 1525 17.9
Latin America 840 9.8
Europe 4653 54.5
Total 8541 100.0
Profile of Respondents
As in the 2002 survey, there were more female respondents (71%) than male respondents
(29%), underlining the increasingly important role of female travellers in the youth market.
The gender split of survey respondents is similar to that found in other studies of this type,
such as the Lonely Planet Travellers’ Pulse report.
Figure 2: Gender of survey respondents
Male
29%
Female
71%
The average age of respondents in 2002 was 23.6, compared with 24.5 in 2007. It seems
that the number of youth travellers over the age of 26 has increased over the past five years.
This change is consistent with the experience of many youth travel industry organisations,
which are increasingly catering to older customers as well as the traditional under 26 market.
Figure 3: Age of survey respondents
35
30
25
20 2007
%
15 2002
10
0
Under 20 20-22 23-25 26-30 Over 30
Not surprisingly, given the large number of student respondents, the young travellers tended
to be highly educated. Almost 80% had some kind of higher education qualification in 2007,
compared with 60% in 2002. This result is consistent with the global educational trend of
increasing participation rates in higher education. It also reflects the slightly older age profile
of respondents in the 2007 survey.
Figure 4a: Education level of survey respondents
70
60
50
40
%
30
20
10
0
ee
ee
a
y
y
ar
ar
om
gr
gr
nd
im
de
de
pl
Pr
co
di
or
e
e/
Se
at
el
at
du
ch
fic
ra
Ba
rti
tg
Ce
s
Po
About 62% of the young travellers were students in 2007, compared with 69% in 2002.
Figure 4b: Proportion of students among respondents, 2002 vs. 2007
80
70
60
% respondents
50
40
30
20
10
0
2002 2007
Of those respondents in university, 66% were taking undergraduate level courses,

and 20% were studying at the postgraduate level.
Figure 4c: University education level of survey respondents
Postgraduate
20%
Graduate
14%
Undergraduate
66%
Over 70% of students were in their first three years of study, which correlates with the
most frequent length of a degree course.
Figure 4d: Years of university education for survey respondents
30
25
20
15
%
10
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Year
Yearof
of study
Study
In terms of the types of courses students are taking, the social sciences were the most
widely attended. Very few students on vocational courses were included in the sample,
probably because they are often working and therefore less likely to engage in ‘student’
travel patterns.
Figure 5: Course of study for survey respondents
Socialsciences
Social Sciences
Professional faculty
Professional Faculty(e.g.
(e.g. law,
law,
medicine, teaching)
medicine, teaching)
Business
Business/ /Commerce
Commerce
Science (e.g. biology, chemistry,
Science (e.g. biology, chemistry, physics)
physics)
Technical (e.g.
Technical engineering,
(e.g. engineering,applied
applied
sciences) science)
FineFine
artsArts
(e.g. art,
(e.g. theatre,
art, theatre,drama)
drama)
Vocational
Vocational
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
%
The median annual income in 2007 was around US$5000, which is consistent with the image
of young people as low yield budget travellers. However, this average can be deceptive, as a
quarter of respondents had an income of US$20,000 or more.
Figure 6a: Annual income of survey respondents
30
25
20
15
%
10
0
$1000
US$ 1000or $1001-
US$ 1001- $2501-
US$ 2501- $5001-
US$ 5001- $7501-
US$ 7501- $10001-
US$ 10001- $20000
US$ 20001-
or less 2500 5000 7500 10000 20000 or more
less 2500 5000 7500 10000 20000 or more
An analysis by region of origin reveals large income differences between different areas of the
world. There is a clear division between young people in Africa and Asia, who predominantly
have incomes lower than US$5000 a year, and those in the Americas and Europe, who
generally have incomes over US$5000. These differences underscore the importance of un-
dertaking regional analyses, both in terms of inbound and outbound travellers.
Figure 6b: Annual income of survey respondents, by region – % above / below US$5000 per annum
90
80
70
60
50 Under $5000
%
40 Over $5000
30
20
10
0
pe
a
ica
c
ric
ic
ifi
ro
er
er
ac
Af
Eu
Am
Am
/P
ia
rth
tin
As
La
No
Despite their generally low income levels, the relatively large travel budgets of survey
respondents indicate that most young travellers are able to save up for a major trip, or
can supplement their income by working abroad.
Travel Style and Identity
Questions of identity are important for young people, and this is reflected in the terms they
use to describe their travel style. In this year’s survey, less than a quarter of respondents
defined themselves as ‘tourists’. Almost half of the respondents defined themselves as
‘travellers’ in both 2002 and 2007. The backpacker label was slightly less popular in 2007.
The desire to escape from the traditional travel labels is reflected in the large number of
people preferring to create their own definition for their travel style in 2007. Of those opting
for another label, the most frequent responses included ‘a mixture of backpacker/traveller/
tourist’, volunteer, or student.
Figure 7: Self-description of travel style, 2007
Other
6% Backpacker
25%
Tourist
23%
Traveller
46%
10 New Horizons II – The Young Independent Traveller 2007 WYSE Travel Confederation
Older respondents with more travel experience in particular rejected the ‘tourist’ designation,
more often calling themselves ‘travellers’. Younger respondents were significantly more likely
to call themselves ‘backpackers’. ‘Backpackers’ also tend to be found where the development
of the backpacker industry is strongest (for example, within enclaves of dedicated backpacker
infrastructure in South East Asia, the Indian sub-continent and Australasia).
Why are young people and students travelling?
In terms of the main purpose of their most recent main trip, exploring other countries and
cultures was cited by over a third of travellers. Although fun and relaxation was the main aim
of the trip for some, these ‘leisure’ motivations were far outweighed by those wanting to
explore or undertake more specific types of travel such as learning a language or volunteering.
Altogether these more ‘serious’ motivations accounted for over 70% of all trips.
Figure 8a: Purpose of most recent main trip
Language
course Volunteering
Volunteering
Language course 3%
2% 3%
2% Work abroad
Work abroad
7% 7%
Explore other
Explore other
places/cultures
places /cultures Study abroad
Study abroad
34%34% 9% 9%
VFR
Visit friends and
17%
relatives
17%
Relax and have

Relax and have fun
fun
28%
28%
There were some differences between men and women in terms of the purpose of trip.
Women were more likely to be studying languages or volunteering, whereas men were more
likely to be studying abroad or relaxing and having fun.
Exploration tended to be most important for respondents from Europe, and least important
for African and Asian respondents. This may indicate that the idea of ‘exploration’ is more
prevalent in the minds of young Europeans and Americans than in other parts of the world.
Figure 8b: Purpose of most recent main trip, by region
40
35
30
Explore other
25
places/cultures
20
%
Relax and have fun

15
10
5
0
pe
a
ica
ica
c
ric
ifi
ro
er
er
ac
Af
Eu
Am
Am
/P
ia
rth
tin
As
La
No
WYSE Travel Confederation New Horizons II – The Young Independent Traveller 2007 11
The main purpose of travel also changes as travellers get older. The youngest group in the
survey (under 20) tend to travel more for relaxation and fun and less for exploration than
travellers in the 26-30 age group. Language courses also tend be taken by younger travellers,
whereas older travellers are more likely to be gaining work experience.
Figure 8c: Motivations for undertaking most recent trip, by age
40
40
35
35
30
30
25
25
Under20
Under 20
20
20
%
15
15 26-30
26-30
10
10
5
5
0
0
Relax and have

Languagetucourse
ot Volunteering
abroad
StudyWabroad
s VFR
countries/cultures
se
ad
ad
es
la other es
n
in
fu
tiv
r
ur
ro
ro
er
ltu
ve
co
ab
ab
la
te
cu
ha
re
un
ge
dy
/
or
fun
d
d
ol
ua
an
an
V
S
rie
Work
ng
Explore
ds
x
nt
La
en
ou
Re
fri
rc
g
he
tin
si
e
Vi
or
pl
Ex
A more detailed analysis of respondents’ motivations for their last trip indicates that even
when they have a clear purpose for travelling, a trip is usually animated by a mix of different
factors. Overall, the search for experience tended to be most important, as it was in 2002.
Exploring other cultures, increasing one’s knowledge and experiencing everyday life were all
rated as important or very important by over 80% of young travellers in 2007. Interacting with
local people was also rated as an important motivation (76%), showing that above all what
young people are looking for in their travel experiences is contact with other cultures and new
ideas. In particular, there was a marked increase in the proportion of respondents saying
that they wanted to help people and make a contribution to the places they visit. This may be
indicative of the fact that young travellers often build important bonds with the places and
people they visit.
Figure 8d: Main motivation for last big trip (% very important or important)
Exploreother
Explore other cultures
cultures
Increasemy
Increase my knowledge
knowledge
Experience
Experience everday life
everyday life
Interactwith
Interact withlocal
local people
people
Relax mentally
Relax mentally
Learnmore
Learn moreabout
about myself
myself
Avoid
Avoid thehustle
the hustleand
and bustle
bustle
Havea agood
goodtime
time with
with friends
2002
2002
Have friends
2007
2007
Relax physically
Relax physically
Buildnew
Build new friendships
friendships
BeBeinina acalm
calmatmosphere
atmosphere
Test
Test and
and developphysical
develop physicalabilities
abilities
Help people & make a positive
Help people and make a positive contribution
contribution
VisitVisit friends
friends and&relatives
relatives
Meetother
Meet othertravellers
travellers
0 20 40 60 80 100
% agree
Meeting other travellers and having a good time with friends were more important for younger
respondents than older ones, and more important for men than women. This may indicate
that women are more independent when they travel, and are not so likely to seek travel
buddies. Men also tended to report visiting friends and relatives in the destination as a more
important travel motivation.
Building friendships with people from other countries was more important for younger
travellers and students, and these groups were also more likely to cite increasing knowledge
as an important motivation. Increasing physical abilities was also more important for younger
male travellers. On the other hand, women tended to emphasise learning more about
themselves, exploring other cultures, meeting local people, and experiencing everyday life.
There were also interesting differences between income groups, with those on higher incomes
more interested in avoiding hustle and relaxing than respondents with lower incomes.
Respondents with lower incomes were more interested in helping local people and making a
contribution to the places they visited.
How much travel experience do they already have?
In terms of respondents’ international travel activity over the last five years, the average
number of (less than 7 days) was 6.2, and the number of long trips (7 days or more) was 5.
This suggests that young travellers, on average, make one short trip and one long trip a year.
Over the past 12 months, however, the global average number of short trips was almost two
a year, and the number of long trips over 1.5. Again this finding seems to indicate a general
increase in the level of trip taking among young people in recent years.

Figure 9: Number of trips taken in past five years and past 12 months
Past five years Past 12 months
Region Short trips (less Long trips (7 days Short trips Long trips (7
than 7 days) or more) (less than 7 days or more)
days)
Africa 2.0 3.9 0.7 1.4
Asia / Pacific 5.2 3.7 1.8 1.6
North America 4.1 3.8 1.2 1.2
Latin America 7.3 5.2 2.2 1.8
Europe 7.0 5.9 2.0 1.7
Total 6.2 5.0 1.9 1.6

Respondents were asked to indicate how many trips they had made outside of their home
region during their lifetime. This question is designed to provide insight into the level of long
haul travel, which tends to be less frequent than international travel in general. On average,
respondents reported taking more than seven major trips outside their region of residence
over their entire travel career. The number of trips taken increased from 6.2 in 2002 to 7.3 in
2007, indicating a growing frequency of travel (although some of this rise may be accounted
for by the slightly older sample in 2007). In comparison with travellers from other regions,
Europeans made the most trips outside their home region, and North Americans the least.
Figure 10: Average number of trips taken in lifetime, by home region
Respondents’ Home Region Average number of lifetime trips

Africa 4.4
Asia/Pacific 7.0
North America 1.7
Latin America 6.6
Europe 9.4
Total 7.3
Travel style is also closely related to travel experience. In general, respondents with the
highest levels of travel experience are more likely to refer to themselves as ‘backpackers’,
while those with least experience tend to call themselves ’tourists’.
Figure 11: Average number of trips taken in lifetime, by self-description of travel style
5,5
5
Average no. of trips
4,5
3,5
3
Backpacker Traveller Tourist Other
There is also a strong relationship between travel experience and the types of destinations
that young people visit. Relatively inexperienced travellers are much more likely to stick to
major ‘gateway’ cities, whereas those who have more travel experience tend to go to other
regions more often.
Figure 12: Destinations visited, gateway cities vs. other
60
55
50 Gateway cities
Gateway cities
45
%
Other cities,
Other cities, towns,
towns,
countrysides
countryside
40
35
30
0-3 4-6 7-10 10+
Number of previous trips
Planning the Trip
What factors were important in planning their trip?
Given the modest income and travel budgets of many young travellers, it is not surprising that
80% base their travel planning on being able to travel as cheaply as possible. However, the
ability to explore the destination is almost as important. Feeling safe in the destination is
also an important consideration in travel planning, even though real or imagined risks are less
likely to deter young travellers than most other tourists (see below). Likewise, the ability to
experience something different and do ‘non-tourist’ activities is highly regarded by a majority
of young travellers. For this reason, being able to speak the language or going somewhere not
too different from home do not factor highly in respondents’ travel planning considerations.
Figure 13: Factors identified by as ‘important’ or ‘very important’ when planning their last main trip
TravellingTravelling as cheaply
as cheaply as as possible
possible
Being able to widely explore the
Being able to widely explore the destination
destination
FeelingFeeling
safe in the
safe destination
in the destination
Ability toAbility
do non-tourist activities
to do non-tourist activities
Having contact withwith

Having contact local people
local people
Flexibility
Flexibility to change
to change mymyplans
plans
Ability to meet
Ability other
to meet travellers
other travellers
Being able toable

Being speak the the
to speak language
language
Going
Going somewhere
somewhere not toonot too different
different from home
from home
0 20 40 60 80 100
%
What information sources do they use for planning their trip?
Youth and student travellers tend to be information intensive, consulting a wide range of
information sources before departure. Internet remains the main form of pre-trip information
gathering (80%), followed by family and friends (70%) (Figure 14a). The dominance of Internet
as an information source is highlighted by the fact that in 2007 tourist office information
increased from 10% to 52%, thanks to the question being broadened to include tourist office
websites. This indicates that not only is Internet the most consulted medium, but travellers
are searching a number of different types of websites to find the information they need. The
use of travel agencies and tourist office information also increased in 2007 compared with
2002, which may indicate that these businesses are adapting to new market conditions, for
example by providing more information over the Internet.
Figure 14a: Information sources consulted before departure on last main trip, 2002 vs. 2007
Internet
Family, friends
Tourist office / website
Travel agency
Guidebooks
Previous visit
2002
Tour operator brochures / websites
2007
Product suppliers
Newspaper, magazines
Embassy / Consulate
TV / radio
Other books
Exhibition / Fair / Trade shows
0 20 40 60 80 100
%
In general, less experienced travellers tended to rely more on friends and family and travel
agents for information, whereas Internet and guidebooks tended to be used more frequently
by experienced travellers. Guidebooks were also consulted more often by ‘backpackers’ prior
to departure, compared with ‘travellers’ or ‘tourists’. This is the same pattern that was seen
in 2002. Backpackers are also more likely to use Internet and most other sources of
information, underlining their role as information-hungry trip planners. This is usually because
they are making longer visits to more ‘difficult’ destinations that require higher levels of
planning.
Figure 14b: Information sources used in trip planning by different traveller types
Internet
Internet
Family,
Family friends
/ Friends
Guidebooks
Guidebooks
Tourist information
Tourist office
information material
office material/ /Website
website
Travel agency
Travel agency
Tour
Tour operator
operator brochures/ /Websites
brochures websites Tourists
Travellers
Information
Informationfrom
fromprevious
previousvisit
visit Backpackers
ProductProduct suppliers:
suppliers: airlines, airlines, hostels,
hostels, hotels, hotels,
language
schools language school
Embassy
Embassy//Consulate
Consulate
Newspaper / Magazines
Newspaper, magazines
TVTV
/ Radio
/ radio
Exhibition
Exhibition// Fair
Fair // Trade
Tradeshows
shows
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
%
The intensity of information search was also closely related to trip duration. Respondents
consulted an average of four different information sources prior to their trip, a significant
increase compared with 2002, when the average was only three sources. The number of
sources consulted increased with trip length, and more experienced travellers consulted a
significantly higher number of information sources pre-departure.
Figure 15: Number of information sources consulted
5,5
5.5
sources consulted
5
5
consulted
4,5
4.5
No ofofsources
4
4
Number
3,5
3.5
3
3
0-14 15-30 31-60 61-90 91-120 121-180 0ver 180
When asked about the specific features of travel websites they value most, respondents were
most likely to identify price comparison features and information about the destination. These
information-based features were rated well above functionality, such as being able to book
everything on one website (e.g. flights, accommodation, surface transport) or saving enquiries
for later booking. Websites aimed specifically at youth travellers were also not considered to
be as important as information provision.
Figure 16: Features that should be available on a website used for making travel arrangements
Website compares
Website comparesprices
prices from different
different
companies companies
Information
Informationabout
aboutmy
my destination
destination
I can book
I can mymyentire
book entiretrip
tripon
on the same
the same
Wesite website
Travel products
Travel productsfor
foryouth travellers
youth travellers
Website
Websitesaves
savesmy
my enquiry
enquiry
0 20 40 60 80 100
%
How do they book their travel, accommodation and activities?
There is little doubt that booking behaviour is changing rapidly with the introduction of new
technology, or that young travellers are among the most avid users of these new possibilities.
The 2007 survey indicates that for those who made prior bookings, about half the market is
now reserving their air travel online, and over 60% are making accommodation bookings over
the Internet. Travel agents are still very important in the surface and air travel markets (and
have an even larger share in terms of booking value), and also account for a large number
of insurance and tour product sales. Niche products, such as work and study abroad and
volunteering are likely to be sold by a relatively small number of specialist agencies.
Figure 17a: Method of booking used for last main trip
Online (%) In a travel agency (%) Phone or fax (%)

Air travel 51.7 38.3 10.0
Surface travel 48.6 40.6 10.8
Accommodation 63.5 21.2 15.3
Language course 54.9 27.9 17.1
Work abroad programme 57.1 25.4 17.5
Study abroad programme 55.7 24.8 19.6
Volunteer programme 58.3 24.5 17.1
Insurance 45.9 39.5 14.6
Tours 41.2 47.4 11.4
These figures indicate that although the use of the Internet to search for information has
increased only slightly in the last five years (from 70% to 80% of respondents), the percentage
of bookings made on the Internet has grown dramatically, from 10% in 2002 to almost 50%
in 2007. These results indicate that the Internet is increasingly considered a trusted medium
for booking travel as well as finding information.
The propensity to book via different channels varies according to travel style. Backpackers are
most likely to book their air travel in a travel agency, and least likely to book online.
Figure 17b: Method of booking air travel, by travel style
60
50
40
Online
30 Travel agent
%
Phone or fax
20
10
0
Backpacker Traveller Tourist
However, when it comes to accommodation, backpackers are the most likely to book online
and least likely to use a travel agent.
Figure 17c: Method of booking accommodation, by travel style
80
70
60
50 Online
40 Travel agent
%
30 Phone or fax
20
10
0
Some general patterns in booking channel choice were observable:
Online bookings were made more often by:
• Women
• Higher levels of education
• Higher income levels
Travel agencies were used more often by:
• Men
• Younger age groups
• Students
• Lower levels of education
• Lower income levels
There is an interesting relationship between air travel booking and travel experience, with the
least experienced and most experienced travellers preferring to use travel agents, and those
with intermediate levels of travel experience booking online. This may indicate that travel
agents serve the needs of those who need most information – those just starting out on their
travel careers and those making more adventurous, complex journeys.
Travel suppliers
In terms of the type of suppliers that bookings are made with, specialist student or youth
travel agents are still very important for this market, even when bookings are made online.
Almost half of the respondents booked air travel with specialist travel agencies, for example.
In general, the role of travel agents reflects the demand for advice from the customer (which
will reflect the complexity of the product) as well as the availability of commissionable
products. If travel products do not offer a commission to the agency they will either not be
sold, or else the agency will charge a fee for making a booking. Although young travellers
are very likely to use travel agents to purchase standard commissionable products such as
air travel, surface travel or accommodation, products such as work abroad or volunteer
programmes are more complex and are likely to be purchased through other channels.
Figure 18: Booking locations for travel products, 2007 (%)
General Travel Specialised Other Specialised Directly with Other

Agent Student/Youth Travel Agent Product Supplier
Travel Agent
Air travel 21.2 47.2 6.1 22.9 2.6
Surface travel 13.2 25.5 6.7 46.8 7.7
Accommodation 8.9 23.1 6.8 46.4 14.7
Language course 6.6 20.0 9.2 47.8 16.4
Work abroad programme 6.5 24.0 10.7 40.2 18.7
Study abroad programme 5.8 18.6 5.4 48.2 22.1
Volunteer programme 5.6 22.6 8.1 40.5 23.2
Insurance 12.9 41.7 6.3 31.1 8.1
Tours 16.7 31.2 9.3 33.1 9.8

There are some interesting patterns in the type of travellers who use particular booking
locations.
Direct booking of air and surface travel with suppliers (usually over the Internet) increases
with age, travel experience and income. It seems that more experienced travellers, who are
more likely to be older and have higher incomes, are more interested in using their knowledge
to create their own customised travel packages.
For accommodation, specialists are still important even for older, more experienced travellers.
Whereas the less experienced travellers are more likely to turn up at a specialised agency to
book in person, those with more experience will book more often over the agency website.
Not surprisingly, the use of specialised youth and student travel agents falls sharply after the
age of 30.
When asked about the factors that influence how they make their travel arrangements, the
most important aspect for young travellers is price. This is hardly surprising, as many are
travelling on a restricted budget. Beyond price, the quality of service and product quality tend
to be the most important features. In spite of attempts by many travel suppliers to develop
brands in this market, young people do not see this as important in their purchasing decisions
(although it should be recognised that some respondents may not like to admit that they are
influenced by brands). Although most travellers use the Internet to find information, the ability
to book online is still not as important as one might expect. This may be partly due to
continuing resistance from some travellers to booking online, but it may also reflect the
fact that many young travellers do not have a credit card.
Figure 19: Factors influencing travel arrangements on last main trip, 2007 (%)
Price 94.3
Quality of information and services provided by travel agency or product supplier 37.6
Reputation and quality of the travel products (airline, accommodation provider, etc.) 33.1
Flexibility to change my travel plans after purchase 30.7
Ability to book online 29.6
Speed and efficiency 24.0
Access to specialised student / youth travel products 21.1
Range of different products available 20.0
Reputation and quality of the travel agency (whether on-line or store-based) 13.5
Having a travel shop / agent close by 4.5
Buying a well-known brand 3.9
Many of these factors are equally important for travellers of all types. Price was almost
universally important. Quality of information was likewise valued by travellers regardless of
age, experience or income.
Product reputation was less important for specialised student/youth travel agents, where
the access to youth travel products tended to be more important.
Discount Cards
Over 60% of respondents obtained some kind of student discount on their trip in 2007, which
represents a slight increase compared with 2002. Air travel was the most frequent source of
discounts (46% of respondents), followed by surface travel (43%) and accommodation (40%).
In terms of the specific discount cards used, the International Student Identity Card (ISIC) was
the most well-known and widely used card among survey respondents.
Figure 20a: Respondents who have heard of the following discount cards (%)
ISIC 92
Local cards 78
IYHF 56
IYTC 43
EURO 26 41
Figure 20b: Discounts obtained using cards by travel product, 2007 (%)
Air Surface Accomm. Language Work Study abroad Volunteer Insurance Tours
travel travel course abroad progamme
Euro 26 1.3 1.2 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.5 0.6
IYHF 0.3 1 5.1 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.7
Local 4.8 5.9 3.1 1.9 1.3 2.2 1.3 3.9 4.2
ISIC 19.7 17.5 11.9 3.5 3.1 3.7 2.8 8.8 12
IYTC 4 2.6 3.1 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.4 1.2 1.7
Other 18.2 18.2 19.8 21.5 22 21.2 21.8 19.9 19.3
Travellers who used the ISIC to obtain discounts saved an average of almost US$100 on their
last main trip. The amount saved increased significantly for longer journeys, with those who
travelled for between four and six months saving over US$150.
Figure 20c: Amount saved by using the ISIC on last main trip, 2007
0ver 180
121-180
Trip length (days)
91-120
61-90
31-60
15-30
0-14
0 50 100 150 200

US$
On the road
Where do they go?
Survey respondents were asked to indicate destinations they had visited during their entire
travel career, as well as destinations they had visited during their last major trip.
Regions visited during entire ‘travel career’
Over the course of their entire ‘travel career’ to date, respondents had visited many world
regions, with over half having visited Northern and Southern Europe and over 40% having
visited North America and Eastern Europe. This general pattern changed little between the
2002 and 2007 surveys. There was a modest decrease in the frequency of European
destinations visited, largely because of the wider global spread of survey respondents in
2007. Those regions showing a significant increase in visitation, such as South East Asia
and Australia, likely benefited from the broader distribution of survey respondents in this
year’s study (i.e. high numbers of Asian and UK respondents in 2007). It is clear, however,
that most regions showed an increase in visitation levels in the last five years. This result
again underlines the growing frequency and range of youth travel.
Figure 21: Destinations visited during entire ‘travel career’
Southern
SouthernEurope
Europe
NorthernEurope
Northern Europe
North
NorthAmerica
America
Eastern
EasternEurope
Europe
South
SouthEast
East Asia
Asia
Australasia
Austalasia
Central
Central America / Caribbean
America/Caribbean
China/Japan
China / Japan
North
North Africa
Africa
Middle
Middle East
East
Central
Central Asia
Asia
South
SouthAmerica
America
Central/Southern
Central / Southern Africa
Africa
Indiansubcontinent
Indian subcontinent
Arctic / Antarctica
Arctic/Antarctica
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
%
2007 2002
Destinations visited on most recent major trip
The most popular destinations for respondents’ last major trip were Australia, the United
States and France, all of which were visited by more than 10% of travellers. These figures
match fairly closely the international tourism arrivals data of the UNWTO, which listed France
as the top international destination in 2005, and the USA as number three. The major
exception is the high level of visitation for Australia, a pattern which is influenced by the
large number of UK respondents in the survey.
Figure 22: Top 20 destinations visited during last main trip
Australia
Australia
United States
United States
France
France
Spain
Spain
Italy
Italy
Germany
Germany
UnitedUnited
Kingdom
Kingdom
Thailand
Thailand
New New
Zealand
Zealand
China
China
Greece
Greece
Canada
Canada
Austria
Austria
CzechCzech
Republic
Republic
Mexico
Mexico
Egypt
Egypt
India
India
Estonia
Estonia
Malaysia
Malaysia
Turkey
Turkey
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
%
(NB: A trip may cover more than one destination)
As noted in the 2002 ‘New Horizons’ report, some destinations tend to attract particular
traveller styles more than others. For the most popular destinations in 2007, it is clear that
Thailand, New Zealand and Australia are the leading ‘backpacker’ destinations. In general,
backpackers are found in long haul destinations where there are highly developed backpacker
infrastructures. The main exception seems to be Estonia, but as this country has only recently
joined the European Union, it may still be perceived as a relatively adventurous destination by
some.
In contrast, classic tourist destinations in Southern Europe, such as Turkey, Spain and
Greece, tend to attract more ‘tourists’ and far fewer backpackers.
Figure 23: Proportion of backpackers in the most popular destinations, 2007
Thailand
Thailand
New Zealand
New Zealand
Australia
Australia
Estonia
Estonia
India
India
Mexico
Mexico
Germany
Germany
Italy
Italy
CzechCzech
Republic
Republic
China
China
Malaysia
Malaysia
Austria
Austria
Egypt
Egypt
France
France
UnitedUnited
Kingdom
Kingdom
Turkey
Turkey
Spain
Spain
United States
United States
Greece
Greece
0 10 20 30 40 50
%
There is also some evidence that young people construct a ‘travel career’, starting out in the
‘easier’ destinations with the most well developed independent travel infrastructure, and later
striking out for more ‘adventurous’ destinations. In 2007, destinations which tended to
attract more experienced travellers included Vietnam, Morocco, South Africa, India and
Argentina, whereas less experienced travellers tended to be found in European destinations.
Although it is easier to travel to major gateways that are well served by air and other
transport links, a large proportion of young travellers are keen to get ‘off the beaten track’
into non-tourist areas. Backpackers in particular tend to travel further afield, although the
‘travellers’ try hardest to distinguish themselves from the ‘tourists’ in their activities.
Figure 24: Preferred destinations and activities, by travel style of respondent
55
50
45 Travel beyond
Travel beyond gateways
gateways
%
Non-typical
Non-typical touristtourist
activities
40 activities
35
30
Backpacker
Backpacker Traveller
Traveller Tourist
Tourist
What transport do they use?
In 2007 the transport question was changed slightly to cover main modes of transport used
outside major cities. The intention was to identify the main forms of long distance travel used,
rather than those used for shorter, intra-urban trips.
Figure 25: Transport used outside of major cities on last main trip, 2007 (%)
Bus 62.6
Car 45.0
Rail 42.5
Air 32.5
Bicycle / moped / motorcycle 9.9
Other, specify 9.2
These data indicate that the primary means of long distance travel was bus, followed by
car and rail. Air travel was only used by a third of respondents to travel within their chosen
destination, although as the 2002 survey indicated, this was by far the most frequent means
of travel to the main destination itself.
Respondents travelling by air tended to have higher incomes and more travel experience. Rail
and bus were used more often by students and younger travellers with lower incomes. Those
with higher incomes were most likely to use a car. A few intrepid travellers used more exotic
forms of transport, including elephants, camels, donkeys, tuk-tuks, kayaks and cargo boats.
Where do they stay?
The main form of accommodation for young travellers continues to be hostels, with over
60% having stayed in some sort of hostel in 2007 (a slight increase compared with 2002).
Independent or backpacker hostels were used more frequently (37%) than ‘official’ Hostelling
International (HI) youth hostels (24%). Interestingly, the proportion of respondents staying in
hotels also increased from 2002 to 2007, indicating the growing convergence between
hostels and budget hotels in the youth market.
Figure 26: Accommodation used on last major trip (%)
Hostel 61.5
Hotel 47.6
Stayed with family or friends 36.1
Guesthouse, pension, etc. 19.9
Bed & Breakfast / room in a private house 18.9
Self catering accommodation 11.5
Tent / caravan 12.1
Other 8.9
Campervan / motor home 3.7
The fact that young travellers seek out budget accommodation or stay with friends and
relatives means that a higher proportion of their total trip expenditure is likely to be made
with local businesses rather than national or global chains. This may have the effect of
increasing their local economic impact in relation to other types of visitors.
The travel style of young people tends to have a big influence on where they stay.
‘Backpackers’ are much more likely to use hostels, particularly independent hostels, than
are other groups. Those who see themselves as ‘tourists’ tend to stay at hotels instead of
hostels.
Figure 27: Use of independent vs. HI Hostels, by travel style
80
70
60
50
Independent hostels
Independent hostels
40
%
YHA hostels
HI hostels
30
20
10
0
How long do they stay?
In line with general trends in the tourism market, it seems that young people are travelling
more frequently, but going on shorter trips. In 2007, the number of trips of two weeks or less
grew considerably in comparison with 2002, and now account for over 45% of all main trips
taken. In contrast, there has been little change in the proportion of trips of six months or
more, which still account for almost 8% of all main trips.
Reflecting these changes, the average length of a main trip fell from 63 days in 2002 to just
over 53 days in 2007.
Figure 28: Trip length in days
50
45
40
35
30
25
%
20
15
10
5
0
0-14
0-14 15-30
15-30 31-60
31-60 61-90
61-90 91-120
91-120 121-180
121-180 0ver 180
Over 180
The longest trips were made by respondents from Africa, and the shortest trips by travellers
from Latin America. The average trip duration for respondents from all other regions was very
close to the average trip length for all respondents.
Figure 29: Average trip length in days, by region of origin
Home Region of Respondent Average trip length - days
Africa 68
Asia/Pacific 55
North America 56
Latin America 47
Europe 53
Total 53
How much do they spend?
In 2007, the average total travel expenditure for all respondents was about US$2600. Of this
amount, approximately 40% was spent on transport, which in most cases meant air fares.
This means that about US$1550 per main trip was spent in the destination. Of the money
spent in the destination, accommodation was the largest single element, although as
previous studies have indicated, young travellers allocate a smaller percentage of their trip
expenditure to accommodation than do most other types of tourists.
Figure 30: Spend breakdown for last main trip, 2007 (%)
Transportation to/from the primary destination 31.5

Transportation between secondary destinations (e.g. pre-paid railpass) 9.5
Accommodation 18.1
Food and drinks 15.1
Communication (phone, internet, postcards, etc.) 4.1
Activities and entertainment 11.2
Other 10.6
There was a marked increase in expenditure in 2007 compared with the previous survey in
2002. Total average expenditure increased by 39%, and expenditure in the destination grew
by almost 29%. The growth in total expenditure is almost 8% a year, which is greater than
the rate of inflation during this period and slightly higher than the growth in per capita travel
expenditure in general.
Figure 31: Travel spend on last main trip in 2002 vs. 2007

2002 US$ 2007 US$ % increase
Total spend 1875 2600 39
Spend in destination 1200 1550 29
In terms of total spend, the highest spending young travellers came from the Americas, largely
because of their relatively high expenditure on transport. Europeans tended to spend least on
their last major trip. However, it should be remembered that the high frequency of trips taken
by young Europeans means that their total annual travel spend is likely to be higher than
other regions.
Figure 32: Average total expenditure per main trip, by region of origin
3500
3000
2500
2000
US$
1500
1000
500
0
a
ica
c
e
a
ic
ifi
p
ric
ro
er
er
ac
Af
Eu
Am
Am
/P
ia
tin
th
As
or
La
N
Travel style also had a significant impact on total expenditure. Backpackers tended to spend
the most, generally because they made the longest trips. They also tended to spend more on
travel to the main destination than other groups. Interestingly those who reject the standard
‘backpacker’, ‘traveller’ and ‘tourist’ labels also have a relatively high level of expenditure.
They made even longer trips than the backpackers, and were particularly keen to enjoy non-
tourist activities off the beaten track.
Figure 33: Average total expenditure per main trip, by travel style
3500
3000
2500
Total spend ($)
2000
1500
1000
500
0
Backpacker Traveller Tourist Other
It is difficult to gross these expenditure figures up to global levels, because the travellers
responding to this study cannot be taken as totally representative of young people as a
whole. But if we look at UNWTO data we see that the average spend for youth travellers from
the UK, Germany and France, three of the leading tourism generators, was €730 per trip in
2002. This is very close to the global average for all tourists of €727 in 2002. If we make the
general assumption that youth tourism expenditure worldwide is roughly equal to the level for
all tourist arrivals, then the total international youth tourism spend in 2005 can be estimated
at about 20% of total tourism spending, or €109 billion (US$136 billion). If the expenditure
patterns shown in our survey are repeated worldwide these figures indicate that young
travellers spent about €43.6 billion (US$58.9 billion) on travelling to the destination and
€65.14 billion (US$88.3 billion) in the destination itself.
What do they do on their travels?
In terms of the activities young travellers most enjoy on a long trip abroad, visiting popular
tourist and cultural attractions top the list of selected responses, followed closely by
meeting local people. A sizeable group indicate that they prefer to get off the beaten track.
Those respondents most likely to seek non-tourist destinations are travellers from North
America and Europe, whereas African, Asian and Latin American travellers tend to be more
interested in popular tourist sites.
Figure 34: Activities most enjoyed by respondents on a long trip abroad, 2007 (%)
Visiting popular, well known tourist attractions 46.3

Visiting cultural attractions (museums, galleries, heritage sites, etc.) 45.4
Meeting local people 45.1
Eating and drinking 43.3
Getting off the beaten track / visiting non-tourist areas 36.9
Relaxing on a beach 26.8
Attending events and festivals 25.0
Learning a language 19.6
Hiking / trekking 18.7
Visiting friends and family 18.0
Sports (surfing, skiing, water sports, etc.) 16.3
Gaining work experience / developing new skills 9.8
Other 2.3
Everyday activities such as shopping and visiting cafes / restaurants topped the list of
activities actually undertaken by respondents during their last main trip. There have been no
major changes in the popularity of activities between 2002 and 2007, except that visits to
specific cultural attractions seem to have declined slightly. It may be that the desire of young
people to experience everyday life in the destination is also being expressed through
spending more time in those everyday locations where they are most likely to meet local
people and to soak up the atmosphere of everyday life. Earning money and working as a
volunteer are among the few activities that increased in popularity between 2002 and 2007.
This finding is consistent with the trend towards more personal development as well as the
need for many young people to fund their travel by working in the destination.
Figure 35: Activities undertaken in the destination on last main trip, 2002 vs. 2007
Shopping
Shopping
Sittingin
Sitting in cafes
cafés // restaurants
restaurants
Visitinghistorical
Visiting historical sites
sites // monuments
monuments
Walking /
Walking hiking // trekking
/ hiking trekking
Cultural events
Cultural events // festivals
festivals
Visiting museums
Visiting museums
Hnagingout
Hanging outon
on the
the beach
beach
Observing wildlife
Observing wildlife // nature
nature
Nightclubs 2002
Nightclubs
2007
Sporting/ /adrenaline
Sporting adrenaline activities
activities
Attendingsporting
Attending sporting events
events
Learningaalanguage
Learning language
Working//earning
Working earning money
money
Academicstudy
Academic studyprogramme
programme
Workingas
Working as aa volunteer
volunteer
Other
Other
Au-pair
Au-pair
0 20 40 60 80 100
%
Looking at the activities undertaken by respondents with different travel styles, it is clear that
backpackers undertake the broadest range of activities. Backpackers can combine leisure,
cultural, social and nature activities because of the long length of their stay in a given
destination. The breadth of backpackers’ activities also underlines the search for experience
that drives many young people to travel.
Figure 36: Most popular activities, by travel style
Visiting historical sites /

Visiting historical sites / monuments
monuments
Sitting in cafes
Sitting in cafés/ /restaurants
restaurants
Walking / hiking
Walking / hiking//trekking
trekking
Shopping
Shopping
Other
Other
Tourist
Tourist
Visiting
Visitingmuseums
museums
Traveller
Traveller
Cultural
Cultural events events
/ festivals / festivals /
/ performances Backpacker
Backpacker
performances
Hanging
Hanging outoutononthe
the beach
beach
Observing
Observingwildlife
wildlife // nature
nature
Nightclubs
Nightclubs
0 20 40 60 80 100
%
Respondents who label themselves as “other” are particularly likely to be earning money,
studying or working as a volunteer. This may explain why they reject labels such as
‘backpacker’ or ‘traveller’; because they are often working in the local community or living
for long periods of time in one location, they don’t see their experience as one of ‘travel’
or ‘tourism’.
Figure 37: Less frequent activities, by travel style
Sporting activities / adrenaline activities
Attending sporting events
Working / earning money Other

Tourist
Learning a language
Traveller
Working as a volunteer Backpacker
Academic study programme
Au-pair
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
%
What communication channels do they use during their trip?
Modern communications make it much easier for travellers to stay in touch with friends and
family back home during a trip, almost regardless of their destination. It is clear, however,
that not every traveller wants to be in constant contact with ‘home’. About a third of young
travellers who are away for one month or more never make contact with people at home.
Figure 38: Frequency of contact with home for travellers away for at least one month
40
35
30
25
20
%
15
10
5
0
Daily Every 2-3 Weekly Monthly Less than Never
days once a
month
The Internet has consolidated its position as the most popular means of keeping in touch
with home while travelling. In 2002, about 68% of respondents used Internet or email; in
2007 this figure had jumped to almost 80%. Internet is heavily used by those contacting
home weekly or every 2-3 days, whereas those keeping in touch every day are more likely to
use text messages. More than half of travellers still write letters or postcards, but these tend
to be sent fairly infrequently.
Figure 39:Internet Letters

Communication Regular
methods used on trip bytelephone Mobile phone
frequency of use, 2007 SMS/text
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Daily Every 2-3 Weekly Monthly Less often
days
Internet Letters Regular telephone Mobile phone SMS/text
100%
Between 2002 90%
and 2007 there was a 10% growth in the proportion of travellers using
Internet, and 80%
a 15% decline in the use of regular phones. The major change that has taken
70% a growth in the frequency with which people are staying in touch, rather
place is therefore
60%of communication. With the growth of Internet telephony, the Internet is
than the medium
50% travellers almost every day, not just for checking emails every few days
%
now used by many

or weeks. 40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Daily Every 2-3 Weekly Monthly Less often
days
Reflecting on the trip
What do they gain from their travels?
The benefits of travel reported by respondents have changed little between 2002 and 2007.
The main benefit gained from travel continues to be a thirst for more travel (Figure 40). Once
young people start travelling, they find it difficult to stop. This underlines the importance of
attracting backpackers and young travellers early in their ‘travel careers’, as they are likely
to remain avid travellers. Over 80% of young travellers confirm that travel experience made
them more interested in learning about other cultures, more appreciative and tolerant of other
cultures, and more self-confident and self-aware.
Figure 40: Benefits gained from travel, 2007
A thirst
A thirst for for
moremore travel
travel
More interest in learning about other
More interest in learning about other cultures
cultures
More appreciation
More appreciation of other
of other cultures
cultures
More self-knowledge and self-
More self-knowledge and self-awareness
awareness
More tolerance
More tolerance of cultural
of cultural differences
differences
MoreMore
self-confidence
self-confidence
A better understanding of my own

A better understanding of my own culture
culture
0 20 40 60 80 100
% agree
The respondents who reported the most benefit from their travel experiences tended to be:
• Women
• Backpackers
• Those travelling off the beaten track
• Engaging in long haul travel
• Travelling for longer periods
• Travelling to developing countries
Travel also has an important impact on the values and attitudes of young people. In 2007,
over 80% of travellers said that their trip had changed their overall lifestyle in some way. And
nearly three quarters indicated that they had re-evaluated their career goals and options as a
result of their trip. Their travel experiences also made the majority of young people more likely
to travel independently in the future, a promising indication for the health of the youth travel
market.
Figure 41: The impact of travel experiences on attitudes and lifestyle, 2007 (%)
Changed my overall lifestyle 81.0

Changed how I think about my career options, professional goals, etc. 73.7
Made me travel in a more responsible manner (i.e. more respect for other 69.6
cultures and the environment)
Made me think about issues of social justice, poverty, international 66.2

relations, etc.
Strengthened my personal values and ethics 60.5
Made me more likely to arrange independent-style travel experiences in 58.2

the future
Increased my understanding of and respect for other cultures 40.2
Those respondents who reported the greatest travel impacts on their attitudes and values
tended to be:
• Backpackers
• Women
• Younger travellers
• Volunteers
• Travelling longer
• Travelling to developing regions
Barriers to travel
This study confirms that young people are relatively fearless travellers. Only about 3% of
respondents indicated that they had delayed their trip abroad because of terrorism, crime,
political instability or other problems. The main reason for young travellers to avoid visiting
certain destinations was crime, which is often more of a structural issue in the areas visited
than terrorism or war. Even then, perceived levels of crime were more likely to produce a
feeling of anxiety rather than a change in travel plans.
Figure 42: Impact of factors on travel plans
90
90
80 No impact at all
80
70 No impact
No impact at all
at all
70
60 Made
Made meme anxious
anxious about about
visiting
certain places
60
50 Made me anxious
visiting certain places about
%%
50
40 visiting
Made
Made meme certain
avoid
avoid places
certain
certain
40 destinations
30 Made me avoid certain
destinations
30
20 destinations
Caused me
Caused me to delay
to delay my trip my
20
10 abroad
Caused
trip me to delay my
abroad
10
0 trip abroad
0
iatby ity
ass s
mr m
Cer e
cesm cs
m
ty
s
eisr er
te
rimrim
ic
im
sitl il
riesrroris
ili
is
iid i
inb b
l td t
eEmp m
ras s
atla ta
rro Trro
itsua isa
C C
e
isc s
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Interestingly, men tend to be more affected by terrorism, war or natural disasters than women,
although women are slightly more likely than men to be anxious about travelling to places
because of crime. In general, travellers with higher education levels, higher incomes and
those taking longer trips are less likely to be concerned by potential problems in the
destination. Part of the explanation for this finding may be that travellers with these
characteristics tend to plan their trips carefully, and would therefore be well aware of any
problems in advance. In terms of travel style, backpackers and travellers are far less nervous
about potential problems than tourists. Those with specific motivations for travelling to the
destination, such as volunteers or those visiting friends and relatives, are also less likely to
shy away. Volunteers in particular are very unlikely to be deterred by natural disasters,
perhaps because many volunteer programmes are aimed at alleviating the impacts of these
very phenomena.
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Today’s Youth travellers...

Tomorrow’s global nomads
Keizersgracht 174
1016 DW Amsterdam
www.wysetc.org

New Horizons Ii: The Young Independent Traveller 2007

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New Horizons Ii: The Young Independent Traveller 2007

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5 Methods and Profile Of Respondents

9 Travel Style and Identity

14 Planning The Trip

32 Reflecting On The Trip

• Travelling more often

• Exploring more destinations

• Spending more on travel

• Booking more over the Internet

• Getting a lot out of their travel

Figure 1: Distribution of survey responses by world region

Number Of Responses % Survey Respondents

Figure 2: Gender of survey respondents

Figure 3: Age of survey respondents

Figure 4a: Education level of survey respondents

Figure 4b: Proportion of students among respondents, 2002 vs. 2007

Of those respondents in university, 66% were taking undergraduate level courses,

Figure 4c: University education level of survey respondents

Figure 4d: Years of university education for survey respondents

Figure 5: Course of study for survey respondents

Figure 6a: Annual income of survey respondents

Travel Style and Identity

Figure 7: Self-description of travel style, 2007

Why are young people and students travelling?

Figure 8a: Purpose of most recent main trip

Relax and have

Figure 8b: Purpose of most recent main trip, by region

Relax and have fun

Figure 8c: Motivations for undertaking most recent trip, by age

Relax and have

How much travel experience do they already have?

Past five years Past 12 months

Africa 2.0 3.9 0.7 1.4

Asia / Pacific 5.2 3.7 1.8 1.6

North America 4.1 3.8 1.2 1.2

Latin America 7.3 5.2 2.2 1.8

Europe 7.0 5.9 2.0 1.7

Total 6.2 5.0 1.9 1.6

Figure 10: Average number of trips taken in lifetime, by home region

Respondents’ Home Region Average number of lifetime trips

Figure 12: Destinations visited, gateway cities vs. other

Planning the Trip

What factors were important in planning their trip?

Having contact withwith

Being able toable

What information sources do they use for planning their trip?

Figure 15: Number of information sources consulted

How do they book their travel, accommodation and activities?

Figure 17a: Method of booking used for last main trip

Online (%) In a travel agency (%) Phone or fax (%)

Figure 17b: Method of booking air travel, by travel style

Figure 17c: Method of booking accommodation, by travel style

Some general patterns in booking channel choice were observable:

Online bookings were made more often by:

Travel agencies were used more often by:

Figure 18: Booking locations for travel products, 2007 (%)

General Travel Specialised Other Specialised Directly with Other

Air travel 21.2 47.2 6.1 22.9 2.6

Surface travel 13.2 25.5 6.7 46.8 7.7