2012 is set to be the year of travel
A recent search reveals that an estimated 2.5 million young people in the UK will be planning a gap year in 2012. The findings, by youth travel specialist, STA Travel predict a boom in student travel this year as unemployment soars and university fees rise.
The research shows that because many young people have had to make changes to their plans for 2012, either because of increased university fees or struggles to find employment, they have decided to make the most of their situation and go travelling instead.
Last year the average age of STA’s customers were 23 years, old, however this age is predicted to fall as more and more students head out on their gap years after A-levels, rather than after completing their degree at university.
STA Travel group managing director John Constable said, “For many young people, 2012 will be their ‘year of travel’ as they re-evaluate future plans. Never before has gap travel been so meticulously planned”.
However, people are not just heading overseas to travel and STA has seen an increase in the number of students travelling abroad to work, study and take part in volunteer projects. This number has risen by more than one-third in the past 12 months.
Mr. Constable continued, “Young people have used travel to broaden their horizons for many years, however this avenue has become more formalised with many young people incorporating some sort of skill and CV-boosting activity while they’re away.”
