Young travellers are staying longer and spending more money on holiday than mainstream tourists, the chairman of the British Education Travel Assocation Dick Porter has said.
The average spend per trip for young people has increased by 40% in five years, he told a parliamentary reception at the House of Commons this week. Those aged 16-34 spend an average of £565 per visit, while business travellers spend £527.
“This is arguably the fast growing part of the tourism industry,” said Porter. “It is BETA‘s opinion that the whole spectrum of the tourism industry, inbound and outbound, benefits from young people’s early exposure to the travel bug.
“In fact, the use of travel agents by young travellers has increased sharply, according to figures from the World Tourism Organisation.”