100 new members join WYSE Travel Confederation global community of youth and student travel specialists in 2018

In 2018, the World Youth Student and Educational (WYSE) Travel Confederation increased its global network with 100 new member organisations involved in youth and student tourism from 34 countries around the world.  WYSE Travel Confederation delivered more trade opportunities, research and educational resources and advocacy on behalf of the industry than ever before to all members.  With youth travel booming around the world, WYSE Travel Confederation’s Director General, David Chapman, sees this as just the beginning.

“Young travellers account for 23% of international arrivals and $308 billion USD in tourism receipts,” said David Chapman. “WYSE Travel Confederation is the only global not-for-profit membership organisation representing the entire youth, student and educational travel industry and more organisations are becoming aware of the value that joining this global community can bring to their business.”

Looking ahead to trade opportunities, WYSE anticipates growth. “In 2019 we are delivering more events and trade opportunities than ever before,” said David Chapman. “We are partnering with Arival, the first conference dedicated to the tours, attractions and activities sector. We are also launching the first-ever STAY WYSE Conference in the Americas. These business opportunities are recognised as incredibly valuable by companies operating within the youth tourism industry. I am confident more organisations will attend our events and see the value of joining WYSE Travel Confederation this year.”

Adam Ogle, Co-Founder and Director of Welcome to Travel, one of WYSE Travel Confederation’s newest members, said:

“Despite having extensive experience in the industry, Welcome to Travel is a young operation and we were intrigued as to what to expect when attending our first WYSE event. WYSE Travel Confederation’s events have been a fantastic opportunity to showcase our Work & Travel product to an array of agents we would never have got the opportunity to meet otherwise. We’re pleased to say that so many of the agents loved our unique product and we’re now working with them, further highlighting WYSE’s ability to get the right people to the right event to do good business.”

As part of its research activities in 2018, WYSE Travel Confederation published reports based on the New Horizons IV Survey, a global study of the youth and student traveller. Sector-specific reports on work experience travel and hostels and other forms of travel accommodation for the youth market highlight specific trends, markets, and regions for WYSE members.

WYSE provided seminars, workshops and webinars on the latest issues and trends of the industry. G Adventures, Tourism Australia, Skyscanner, Hostelling International, JO&JOE, International Experience Canada, STS Education, WTTC, TourRadar, and Eurail.com, amongst many others, delivered educational presentations in 2018.

During WYSTC 2018 Edinburgh, WYSE hosted WITH, a group of women in the youth travel industry from around the globe to meet and discuss the barriers to women reaching senior leadership positions in the industry.

New members represent a wide range of organisations such as Booking.com, Hotel OZZ, Magnifi Group and bitemojo. The full list of 100 new members is available here.

“WYSE Travel Confederation’s membership continues to be a truly global community with 34 countries represented by new members,” said David Chapman. “Fifty-two percent of our new members are European organisations, while the Cultural Exchange sector saw the largest influx of new members last year. We look forward to working with all of our members to advance international youth travel in 2019.”

Find out more about WYSE Travel Confederation’s global membership community and what it can offer your organisation here.

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