Essential
market insight
Our members gain an advantage over industry competitors with free access to the industry’s most comprehensive insights into the youth and student travel market.
Our publications are also available for individual purchase by non-members; please contact us to request a publication.
Announcing Cloudbeds’ industry-leading integration with Airbnb
WYSE Travel Confederation member, Cloudbeds, officially announced yesterday a seamless new integration with Airbnb. The real-time connection between Cloudbeds’ property management suite and Airbnb...
UNWTO launches online platform to achieve SDGs through Tourism
Tourism4SDGs.org is a newly created online tool designed to advance the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals through tourism. Developed by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), with...
Six millennial and gen Z travel trends we are tracking in New Horizons IV
Are millennials killing the chain restaurant industry? How can the housing market compete with millennials’ love of avocado toast? Will face-to-face communication go the way of the landline in a gen...
BridgeClimb Sydney loses right to operate tourist climbs of Sydney Harbour Bridge
After more than 20 years of taking international and domestic tourists over the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) announced on 15 June, 2018 that BridgeClimb Sydney...
Welcome to our newest member – El Viajero Hostels
Interview with Alejandro Osorio – Development Director Tell us your story. How did El Viajero Hostels get started? El Viajero Hostels was founded by our CEO Federico Lavagna, a world traveller, who...
European Capital of Smart Tourism will recognise innovative and inclusive tourism development
The European commission wants to recognise innovative, inclusive, culturally diverse and sustainable practices in tourism development by European cities. That's why, on the initiative of the...
Millennial and gen Z travellers spending more, experiencing life as a local
Forget clubbing, couch-surfing, and selfie sticks. The 2018 ITB Berlin Youth Travel Hall (4.1) showed off what the youth travel market is really about - experiential and immersive travel for key...
Millennial and GenZ travellers spending more, experiencing life as a local
MEDIA RELEASE Millennial and GenZ travellers spending more, experiencing life as a local Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 9 March 2018 Forget clubbing, couch-surfing, and selfie sticks. The 2018 ITB...
Expert insights and Heineken on tap at ITB Berlin in the Youth Travel Hall (4.1)
During ITB Berlin 2018, travel professionals will have the opportunity to learn from some of youth and student travel’s experts and thought-leaders. WYSE Travel Confederation has a jam-packed...
Dining platform VizEat rebrands to newly acquired Eatwith
VizEat, a WYSE Travel Confederation member and the world’s largest community for local food experiences, is officially rebranding to Eatwith, following its recent acquisition of the San...
Hello Kitty appointed Special Ambassador of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism Development 2017
Sanrio's best-known character, Hello Kitty will help promote UNWTO's 2017 “International Year of Sustainable Tourism Development” campaign “Travel. Enjoy. Respect”. “Travelling opens our minds and...
WYSE Travel Confederation recognised for creating an ‘incredible impact’
WYSE Travel Confederation has been recognised by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) and BestCities Global Alliance as a leading example of excellence within the meeting...
Feeling happy or feeling old? You must be travelling
Some say travel is like cheese or wine – it gets better with age. Others say travel is best when you’re young. The question of optimal age for travel was tackled from the perspective of a Millennial...
UK campaigns to send more students abroad
Universities UK International has launched a three-year campaign to increase the number of United Kingdom students studying, working and volunteering abroad for two or more weeks as part of their...
New Horizons survey gathers 57 thousand responses
The fourth edition of the New Horizons global survey of the youth and student traveller has brought in a record-breaking number of responses. More than 57,000 survey responses have been counted, and...
Turkish students eye alternatives to US Universities
Turkish students are exploring the possibility of studying in the UK and Canada following the visa row with the United States, according to recent reports.“I was going to the US with the Work and...
Welcome to our newest member – Steep International Ltd. from Jamaica
Students, Tourists, Educators Exchange Program (STEEP) International is a private non-governmental organisation, designed and established to develop student and youth tourism throughout Jamaica and...
UNWTO: Social media changing destination branding
Ministers of Tourism and private sector leaders meeting at the 9th UNWTO & World Travel Market (WTM) Ministers' Summit agreed that destination branding and the way tourism marketing...
Youth and student travellers age 15 to 29 represent 23% of international tourist arrivals
WYSE Travel Confederation and the World Tourism Organization have together announced an updated estimate of the size of the global youth travel market according to which youth and student travellers...
Latest Backpacker stats from Tourism Research Australia
The latest stats from Tourism Research Australia (TRA) have just been released, these are for the year ending March 2015. In short Australia remains a massively desirable country to visit. Young...
Welcome to our new member Cloudbeds
WYSE Travel Confederation’s new member, Cloudbeds creates browser-based hospitality management software that simplifies the working life of hoteliers. Cloudbeds' award-winning software is trusted...
10 things you might not know about the youth travel market
According to Diego Saez-Gil, Founder of WeHostels and VP at StudentUniverse, even after several years working in the youth travel market he doesn't stop getting surprised by how fascinating this...
Travel improves educational attainment & future success
A new survey, "Travel Improves Educational Attainment & Future Success," explores the impact of learning-focused travel on academic performance and career growth. The findings demonstrate...
Travel Types of the 21st century – Traveler vs. Tourist
Gomio.com examines the terminology of the modern travel industry. Make the mistake of calling a “hostel-traveler” a tourist and you may find yourself getting a cold shoulder and stink eye… if not...
Gen Z and Millennial festival travellers
Previous research from WYSE Travel Confederation has underlined the growing importance of events, and particularly music festivals, in generating youth travel. The New Horizons IV research conducted in 2017 indicated that there were around 23 million youth festival travellers, spending over 5 billion euros.
Selina opens its doors in Dakhla, Morocco
The newly opened hotel offers guests a unique and immersive experience in the stunning coastal city of Dakhla.
Mental health and travel: Shifting Perspectives in Secondary Exchange Programs
In the field of secondary school exchange programs, there has long been a norm that if a student discloses a history of mental health problems or treatment, or experiences the onset of a mental...
Welcome to our new member – GTS Work & Travel
For more than 20 years, GTS has been providing opportunities for students and youth to experience world cultures programmes. Currently, GTS is one of the leaders of youth programmes on the Romanian market.
Tourism Adventure Group Completes Acquisition of Work & Travel Company
Tourism Adventure Group (TAG), a global leader in youth travel experiences, announced today the successful completion of the acquisition of the Work & Travel Company.
Welcome to our new member – Adventures in Borneo
Adventures in Borneo’s commitment to delivering exceptional adventure travel experiences, promoting environmental conservation, and supporting local communities allows us to make a positive impact in the travel industry.
WYSE Travel Confederation launches fifth New Horizons study on global youth and student travel
New Horizons combines information on the social and cultural aspects of young travellers (backgrounds, motivations, and experiences) with data on travel behaviours (purchasing, booking, product search and destinations visited).
Culture and the importance of youth travel
David Chapman, Director General of WYSE Travel Confederation spoke at the Bridging Cultures Through Travel Conference hosted by CultSense and ATLAS, the Association for Tourism and Leisure Education and Research, on Wednesday, 14 June.
Tourism Adventure Group appoints new CEO
Tourism Adventure Group (TAG), a world-renowned player in the youth travel experiences market, is thrilled to announce the appointment of Tom Cooney as its new Chief Executive Officer.
Giant inflatable flamingo or portable disco ball?
If you could pack one of those non-essential items for your next trip, which would it be? Or maybe one is essential to your next trip?*
Potential millennial demand for creative tourism experiences – research from South Africa
Creative tourism, or the active participation by tourists in creative activities in the destination, was one of the growth areas for youth tourism identified by WYSE Travel Confederation as far back as 2005 (WYSE/UNWTO, 2005).
Welcome to our new member – Amistat Hostels
With brand-new refurbished hostels in major South European capital cities, Amistat stands out by delivering exceptional experiences and facilitating connections among travellers.