| Dear Industry Colleague,
Thank you to those who shared their opinions and concerns about the possible impact of the United Kingdom’s ‘Brexit’ from the European Union on business in the youth travel industry.
Overall, the outlook from the youth travel community is pessimistic, with 45% saying that they believe business prospects will be worse as a result of Brexit. Decreases in business volume between 12% and 19% are expected over the next year.
These concerns are with good reason. The UK is an important source market of youth and student travellers. Young travellers from the UK aged 25 or younger made 10.4 million trips abroad in 2015 and Europe is one of the most important destinations for them, receiving over 60% of the market. While holidays account for more than half of these trips, study, work experience and language learning are also significant travel segments. It should come as no surprise that the WYSE Brexit Survey found that au pair and work experience businesses – some of the sectors dealing with visas – are expecting the biggest decreases in business volume as a result of Brexit.
Are there bright spots? Yes. Transport operators expect an upturn and some believe that stricter visa regulations could increase the value of agent services. Also, many see the potential for other EFL destinations to become attractive alternatives to the UK.
I invite you to download a copy of the WYSE Brexit Survey summary and to keep in contact with WYSE Travel Confederation as the situation evolves.
Sincerely yours,
David Chapman
Director General
WYSE Travel Confederation
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