Even though youth travellers tend to be adventurous, WYSE Travel Confederation’s New Horizons research has found that they will tend to avoid destinations they perceive as unsafe. WYSE research has consistently asked youth travellers about several factors that might impact their travel plans, including natural disasters, war and terrorism. In 2023 we also asked about public health issues and personal identity as barriers to travel.
Between 2017 and 2023, New Horizons surveys detected an increase in the proportion of youth travellers who said that their trip planning had been affected by one or more factors. The biggest increase was related to public health issues, undoubtedly a result of COVID-19. Issues related to political and social unrest, natural disasters and war also increased, although fewer youth travellers in 2023 mentioned terrorism as a factor impacting their travel plans.
The factors with the greatest impact on travel planning in the 2023 New Horizons survey were political or social unrest (22%) and public health issues (19%).
“When choosing a travel destination, the most important thing is how safe it is. Young adults tend to avoid places with public health issues, high crime rate and war areas (or close to conflict). They also tend to avoid destinations, where they could be “scammed” by locals, when trying to use any basic services – taxis, restaurants, shops.
Less than 10 years ago, young travellers where very much interested in destinations like India, South Africa and Latin America, and they were opting for backpacking, trips around the country with any type of public transportation, alternative accommodations and interaction with locals. Nowadays most young travellers, who are not accompanied by their parents, are opting for destinations they consider as safe, even sterile.”
Rumyana Mehandzhieva, USIT COLOURS Bulgaria
Environmental concerns were also prominent, with 23% of youth travellers saying that environmental concerns made them anxious about visiting certain destinations. Gen Z travellers were most likely to have concerns with environmental issues and travel.
“A more sustainable and inclusive way travelling is what youth travellers are looking for. All factors that are attacking those principles, such as war, crisis, political scepticism, and environmental policy, will create barriers to travel.”
Diogo Vaz Ferreira, Clink Hostels
Regarding personal identity, there was a sizeable minority of youth travellers responding to the New Horizons survey that said issues related to personal identity made them anxious about visiting certain destinations.
“Undoubtedly prospective students and parents will have concerns about recent unrest in the UK. On 7 August, counter protesters vastly outnumbered far-right demonstrators in London and across many other UK towns and cities. Police forces prepared for over 100 far-right demonstrations with continued violence and unrest and deployed over 4,000 specially trained public order officers. The incidents are concerning and have sparked significant negative attention.
However, it was the counter protesters, communities and local citizens who turned up in substantial numbers chanting slogans like ‘Whose streets? Our streets.’ and ‘Refugees are welcome here.’
Universities, colleges, and private education providers including Twin, typically provide pre-arrival support and guidance to international students, addressing any apprehension they may have through enhanced plans to maintain support until fully integrated culturally and emotionally into their programmes of study.
Police were braced for further riots this weekend but were met with peace and pro-migrant marches on Whitehall. It was reported that 5,000 people assembled at Reform UK’s headquarters in Victoria accusing Nigel Farage of spreading racism. Thousands also gathered in Edinburgh, Cambridge, Glasgow, Hastings, Newcastle, Oxford, Manchester and across London. The message is clear – all races and communities should be welcome to our shores, a message I am very proud to endorse.”
Jacqui Fox, Twin Group
Travel concerns related to personal identity were much higher for travellers who identified as transgender or non-binary. There were also significant differences by race, with 50% of Black youth travellers expressing concerns related to personal identity while travelling, compared with 21% of White youth travellers.
How is your organisation helping travellers manage safety and environmental concerns related to international travel? Hear strategies based on years of experience at WYSTC, the annual gathering of travel professionals specialised in youth, student and educational travel. You’ll take away more New Horizons youth travel insights and learn from industry peers in 30+ educational sessions at WYSTC in Lisbon, Portugal from 25 to 27 September 2024.
Not able to join us at WYSTC? Get access to more travel research insights online from WYSE Travel Confederation.