Older tourists ‘not exempt from youth travel’

Youth travel is not necessarily restricted to younger age groups, it has been claimed.

Youth travel is not necessarily restricted to younger age groups, it has been claimed.

According to Cape Town Routes Unlimited (CTRU), the official destination marketing organisation for holidays to Cape Town, youth travel can include independent tourists who are significantly older than the teenagers the concept is usually associated with.

Calvyn Gilfellan, chief executive of CTRU, said: “This type of travel involves independent tourists up to the age of 50 who are interested in the hidden gems of a destination rather than the conventional tourist attractions,” according to Travel Daily News.

He added that these travellers tend to want more educational holiday experiences.

A report from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) suggests that the global youth travel market is currently undergoing major growth.

The UNWTO also predicts that South Africa will account for nearly 40 per cent of all international tourist arrivals by 2020, equivalent to more than 30 million visitors