MEDIA RELEASE

The Global Youth Travel Awards (GYTAs), held annually by WYSE Travel Confederation, formally recognise outstanding performers across several fields of international youth travel and reward stakeholders in the youth, student and educational travel industry that make a noteworthy contribution to the industry.

Now in their thirteenth year, the Global Youth Travel Awards are open to all organisations that work with youth travellers, regardless of their size or location. The nominated awards allow organisations to put forward a project, programme, product/service, campaign or collaboration that has had measurable impact on the industry over the last year. The four consumer-voted awards offer travel businesses the opportunity to promote themselves, and at the same time, young travellers to voice their opinions on the best of youth travel.

The winners were announced at a gala dinner on the final evening of the World Youth and Student Travel Conference (WYSTC) in Lisbon on 15 September 2023.

Winners of the 2023 Global Youth Travel Awards

Best Responsible Tourism Initiative
Abraham Group

Outstanding Contribution to the SDGs
African Impact

Best DEI Initiative
InterExchange

Best Marketing Campaign
Tourism Northern Territory

Best Travel Tech Provider
What Media

Best Work Experience Provider
Alliance Abroad Group

Best Education Abroad Provider
Centre for Global Citizenship Studies

Extraordinary Experience
World Nomads

WYSTC Partnership Award
Freepackers & Tingua

Best Hostel
JO&JOE

Best LGBTQ+ Travel Experience
The Queer Travel

Best Travel App
Hopper

Best Youth Tour Operator
Welcome to Travel

To view the photos and video of the 2023 Awards ceremony, click here.

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Media enquiries
WYSE Travel Confederation
+31 (0)20 421 2800
communications@wysetc.org

About the Global Youth Travel Awards
The Global Youth Travel Awards (GYTAs) formally recognise outstanding performers in fourteen fields of international youth travel and reward WYSE Travel Confederation members and other stakeholders in the youth, student and educational travel industry who make an outstanding contribution to our industry.
The GYTAs began at the World Youth and Student Travel Conference (WYSTC) 2011 in Barcelona with a focus on bringing to light the great experiences being provided by members of the community. The Awards ceremony has subsequently been held annually at WYSTC, bar the 2020 and 2021 editions which took place virtually.

About WYSE Travel Confederation
The World Youth Student and Educational (WYSE) Travel Confederation is a global not-for-profit membership organisation dedicated to promoting and developing opportunities for the youth, student and educational travel industry. Founded in 2006 and created from the merger of the Federation of International Youth Travel organisations (FIYTO) and the International Student Travel Confederation (ISTC) – both formed after World War II to inspire young people through international travel and to help remove cultural barriers – the confederation brings together 60 years of youth travel expertise. From adventure tour operators to au pair agencies, cultural exchange programmes to language schools, hop-on-hop-off buses to student insurance and youth hostels to volunteer programmes, WYSE Travel Confederation is the world’s most powerful network of youth and student travel professionals, connecting key industry players with decision makers and government officials.

The Confederation is committed to understanding the ever-changing characteristics, motivations and needs of young travellers. By gathering, analysing and sharing important market intelligence with members, academics and government decision-makers, the unique fast-changing needs of the youth market is at the forefront of its activities as it seeks to accelerate the development of youth travel.