Global
Organisations join forces to Encourage Governments and Businesses to
Tap into Huge Potential of Youth Tourism.
Over
700 delegates from 63 countries meeting at the World Youth and
Student Travel Conference (WYSTC) in San Diego, USA have called on
governments and businesses worldwide to tap into the potential of
youth travel in light of its capacity to boost tourism growth and
global development, a call supported by the World Tourism
Organization (UNWTO).
This
recommendation and others were included in the landmark San
Diego Declaration, the
product of a wide-ranging consultation with the Members of the World
Youth Student & Educational (WYSE) Travel Confederation as they
tweeted, emailed, voted and posted their suggestions in San Diego on
the priorities for youth travel in the coming decades.
UNWTO
estimates that youth travel generates in excess of US$ 185 billion in
international tourism receipts, with much of the growth being led by
emerging markets and a resolve by young people in advanced economies
to continue travelling despite economic uncertainty.
“20%
of the 990 million international tourists traveling the world in 2011
were young people,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai,
opening the three-day conference. “These young travellers are
environmentally-aware and tend to stay longer and interact more
closely with the communities they visit than the average tourist. As
such, youth travel has emerged as one of the most promising paths
towards a more responsible and sustainable tourism sector.”
Director
General of WYSE Travel Confederation, Espen Falkenhaug was delighted
with the Declaration, saying, “Youth travel plays an ever
increasing role in driving the positive growth of the travel industry
as a whole. We are delighted to join forces with UNWTO to take this
vital message to governments on behalf of our members, and the young
people whose aspirations they serve. Research continues to show that
young travellers contribute economic, cultural and social value to
their chosen destination, as well as being enriched by the experience
when they return home. Their unique experiences combine to make a
huge difference in cultural understanding and our aim is to ensure
that the San Diego Declaration will continue to advance these
essential interactions.”
Tourism’s
contribution to peace and global development is also highlighted in
the Declaration which underlines the positive contribution youth
travel can make towards the United Nations Millennium Development
Goals, as they frequently seek to discover new cultures, spend money
directly with local businesses or participate in volunteer
programmes.