Gaurav Namit believes there’s unlimited potential for this tourism market segment. As a board member of the Student and Youth Travel Association, and vice president of Four Winds Tour and Travel, he has seen many eras of student and youth travel. Gaurav joins this episode of the podcast to discuss why student travel is so important, what’s driving its impressive growth, and how travel professionals can get involved.
Gaurav shares how student travel can be transformational in the lives of young people. He also gives his thoughts about student travel’s recession-proof growth potential and gives an inside look into the thought process student tour operators go through when selecting destinations. Plus, we have news about a micro-lending fund for tourism organizations, a Road Tip about making the most of boxed lunches on the road; and a Hot Minute about pros and cons of the traditional restaurant tour menu.
“The industry has shifted a lot. Student travel 50 years ago was looked at as a massive luxury. But as it has become more affordable and travel has become more normalized, student travel has become critical.”