MEDIA RELEASE
Celebrating innovation and excellence in youth travel
WYSE Travel Confederation is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2024 The Global Youth Travel Awards (GYTAs). The GYTAs, sponsored in 2024 by International Experience Canada, recognise and celebrate the exceptional achievements of organisations and individuals dedicated to enhancing the experiences of young travellers worldwide.
Following a large number of submissions across the 12 GYTA award categories, a panel of external judges evaluated the applications based on the established judging criteria.
The winners will be announced at a gala dinner on the final evening of WYSTC in Lisbon on 27 September 2024.
2024 Global Youth Travel Awards finalists
Best Responsible Tourism Initiative
Popotniško združenje Slovenije
Volunteering Journeys
YHA Australia
Intrepid Travel
MedSailors
Outstanding Contribution to the SDGs
CAS Trips
Experiment e.V.
African Impact
STEP Beyond Borders
University of Bath
Best DEI Initiative
Tingua
AdventureEXP
Alliance Strategies
CIEE
Yellowsquare
Best Marketing Campaign
JENZA
Contiki
EF Ultimate Break
BUNAC
GeoVisions
Best Travel Tech Provider
WeTravel
Hanover
D3x
Cloudbeds
123COMPARE.ME
Best Work Experience Provider
Alliance Abroad Group
GeoVisions
Roots Interns
Greenheart International
EcoTraining
Best Education Abroad Provider
Global Leadership Adventures
EDU Africa
Oxford Royale
Greenheart International
ISSOS International
Extraordinary Experience
Stepwest
Raleigh International
Penda Photo Tours
HI USA
Global Leadership Adventures
Best Hostel
ITH Santa Barbara Beach Hostel
LyLo Auckland
Tourism Adventure Group – Nomads Magnetic Island
Generator Hostels
Drifter
Haka House Hostels Lake Tekapo
Best Youth Tour Operator
Projects Abroad
Intrepid Travel
Rustic Pathways
Impactrip
World Challenge
Best Flight-Free Travel
Contiki Holidays
Camps International Group Limited
Europe’s Famous Hostels
WYSTC Partnership Award
The Learning Adventure & CAS Trips
African Impact & GoEco
International Volunteer HQ
The winners will be announced on the final evening of WYSTC in Lisbon, on 27 September 2024. This event will bring together industry leaders, innovators and influencers to celebrate the achievements and contributions of the youth travel sector.
For more information about the Global Youth Travel Awards, please click here.
To register for WYSTC, please 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.