Youth and student travel takes center stage in Edinburgh during the Year of Young People

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

The 27th World Youth and Student Travel Conference (WYSTC) is bringing the top buying and selling organisations from across the globe and from all aspects of youth and student travel together for trading, networking, and education in Edinburgh on 18-21 September.

Organised by WYSE Travel Confederation, the three-day conference will attract more than 600 delegates from around the world. At least 150 international buyers of youth and student travel products will be in attendance.

This is only the second time in the past decade that WYSTC has been held in the UK.
WYSE Travel Confederation said it is delighted to showcase the transformative power of youth and student travel during Scotland’s 2018 Year of Young People.

“We can’t imagine a more perfect setting for WYSTC 2018 than Scotland’s capital city in the midst of their celebration of young people,” said David Chapman, Director General, WYSE Travel Confederation. “At WYSE, we believe in the economic and social power of our youth. When young people travel responsibly and exchange culture abroad, they help foster peace and understanding- both in the destination and their home country.”

Amanda Ferguson, Head of Business Tourism at Convention Edinburgh, added:

“As Scotland celebrates the Year of Young People, we are delighted that Edinburgh has been chosen as the destination to host the leading trade event for the global youth, student and educational travel industry in Scotland for the first time.

Edinburgh is second only to London as the most popular UK destination for youth travel, so it is entirely fitting that we welcome this unique, global initiative to our capital.

Thanks to the support of ETAG, YTE and EICC who joined us in the bid, Edinburgh’s businesses will have the opportunity to learn from and connect with the world’s most extensive network of youth and student travel professionals.”

Helen Marano, Executive Vice President, External Affairs for the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), will give the opening keynote address on the critical issue of responsible growth for the tourism industry and how we can enhance the propensity for young travellers to embrace and expand responsible travel worldwide.

Delegates will also receive insights from the industry’s most comprehensive look at the under-30 travel market. WYSE Travel Confederation’s publication, New Horizons IV: A global study of the youth and student traveller, was released by WYSE Travel Confederation in July 2018. It is based on the 2017 New Horizons IV Survey of more than 57,000 young travellers in 188 countries and territories.

The World Youth and Student Travel Conference is complemented by the Global Youth Travel Awards (GYTA), a gala event formally recognising outstanding performers in 14 fields of global youth travel. The ceremony will be held in the National Museum of Scotland.

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