A growing number of people are opting to go on gap years, perhaps including holidays to Australia and Thailand, in order to escape the current economic difficulties.
More graduates are also choosing to take a year out in order to add to their CVs in a way that other future job candidates may not.
Managing director of Real Gap David Stitt agreed, commenting: “The key factors are redundancy, early retirement, empty-nesters, career breaks, sabbaticals and an increase in a trend for responsible tourism.”
Last month, research from non-profit body the Year Out Group found that South Africa rose from joint fourth place in 2006 to take the crown for top gap year destination in 2007.