youth travel publication
27 November 2007
The Department of Trade and Industry (dti), in conjunction with Backpacking
South Africa, will launch the Backpacking and Youth Travel Trends Publication
at Lebo's Soweto Backpackers in Orlando West on Wednesday, 28 November
2007.
The launch will be attended by representatives from the SA Tourism,
Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Tourism Grading Council of
South Africa (SA), Tourism Business Council of SA, Backpacking South Africa and
tourism consultants. The dti compiled this backpacking and youth travel
publication after recognising the value and potential of this niche market and
the general lack of information on backpacking in the marketplace, the
information in the publication is aimed at creating awareness about backpacking
and youth travel, particularly amongst existing tourism businesses,
entrepreneurs, industry associations and government and development
officials.
Backpacking and youth travel is big business and makes a significant
contribution to the global tourism economy. According to the World Youth
Student and Educational Travel Confederation, young travellers aged 16 to 24
are the travel industry's fastest growing segment. They represent over 20% of
all international visitors and generate over 100 billion United States dollars
each year. In Australia, one of South Africa's main competitor destinations for
example, backpacker and youth travellers spend in the region of United States
$$3 billion each year. This roughly equates to some R18 billion in economic
contribution.
South Africa receives about 90 000 backpacker and youth travellers each
year. These travellers contribute over R900 million annually in direct spend to
the economy. Despite their average daily spend being less than that of many
other tourists, their total trip spend is on a par and sometimes more, because
of their longer length of stay. International backpackers to South Africa stay
an average of 42 days and typically visit Gauteng, Western Cape, Eastern Cape,
KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga provinces. Their interest in rural areas and
authentic experiences directly benefits certain of the country's poorer regions
and communities. A case in point is the Wild Coast where the backpacking
industry has already made a significant contribution to local economic
development.
The Department of Trade and Industry's backpacking and youth publication is
the first in a series of informative tourism niche market reports to be
published by the department. It is to be followed by a birding travel trends
publication in 2008.
Issued by: Department of Trade and Industry
27 November 2007
Source: Department of Trade and Industry (http://www.thedti.gov.za)
