Latest news with #youthtravel
The Independent
18 hours ago
- The Independent
Children to go free on buses in West of England during summer holiday
Children in the West of England will be able to travel on buses for free during the school summer holiday, the region's mayor has announced. The offer could benefit around 150,000 young people aged five to 15 in Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire, the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority said. No bus pass or registration will be required to access the scheme, which is due to run from July 19 to September 5. Mayor of the West of England Helen Godwin, who announced the plans at Hengrove Play Park in south Bristol on Monday, said the initiative would 'help people save money and encourage greener travel', as well as 'inspire the next generation of bus passengers'. Ms Godwin, who was elected mayor last month, added: 'With free travel for 150,000 kids, local families will more easily have busloads of fun during the school holidays.' Pupils from Perry Court E-ACT Academy joined local council leaders at the announcement, alongside bus operators including First Bus, Stagecoach and Bath Bus Company. The initiative is subject to final approvals and would apply to all registered commercial and supported bus services, with limited exemptions such as airport routes. It will be funded through a share of the £13.5 million Bus Grant awarded to the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority by the Department for Transport. Children under five already travel free on most services in the West of England, while fares for five to 15-year-olds are currently capped at £1 per journey.
Hospitality Net
12-05-2025
- Hospitality Net
Next-Gen Navigators: Empowering Youth as Champions of Purposeful Travel
We live in extraordinary times. Never before has humanity had such seamless access to the world. Today, 80% of global youth (ages 15–24) own a smartphone and are more globally connected than any previous generation. With one click, they can board a virtual flight to another continent – or a real one. Just a few generations ago, international travel was a privilege for diplomats and the wealthy elite. For many of our parents, a single overseas trip marked a milestone; for our grandparents, it was almost unimaginable. Today, travel is an expectation. We book a flight from Paris to Johannesburg simply because we felt restless on a Friday night. We chase '100 Destinations Before You Die' bucket lists, collect passport stamps like trophies, and share our journeys on social media. But with great access comes great responsibility. And the time has come to move from passive tourism to purposeful travel. Why Youth Matter Globally, young people account for over 23% of all international travellers, and their numbers are only rising. According to the UN Tourism, youth travel generates over $300 billion annually. They're adventurous, tech-savvy, culturally curious - and crucially, more open to values-based travel. This is a powerful force waiting to be activated for good. If elected Secretary-General, I pledge to centre my strategy on one fundamental belief: Youth are not just tourists; they are stewards, storytellers, and changemakers. The best place to start this journey is through education. The Global Youth Tourism Initiative (GYTI) To bring this belief to life, I propose a Global Youth Tourism Initiative (GYTI) - a flagship platform to educate, engage, empower, and inspire young travellers to become heroes of responsible tourism. 1. Educate Develop global tourism literacy curricula with other UN agencies like UNESCO and UNEP, integrating modules on travel ethics, climate impact, cultural preservation, and digital storytelling. with other UN agencies like UNESCO and UNEP, integrating modules on travel ethics, climate impact, cultural preservation, and digital storytelling. Introduce Tourism Labs in Schools - experiential programs simulating real-world tourism challenges and encouraging innovation. 2. Engage Create a UN Youth Tourism Corps : Young ambassadors trained to run workshops, peer-learning circles, and awareness campaigns in their communities. : Young ambassadors trained to run workshops, peer-learning circles, and awareness campaigns in their communities. Partner with platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Meta to amplify stories of youth who've made a difference through tourism - turning their reels into real change. 3. Empower Launch the Youth Tourism Changemakers Fellowship , offering mentorship, seed funding, and policy incubation support for tourism-based social enterprises. , offering mentorship, seed funding, and policy incubation support for tourism-based social enterprises. Collaborate with the private sector—such as Travel Sustainable initiative or Intrepid Travel's youth expeditions—to give youth real-world exposure. 4. Inspire Develop a My Travel for Good storytelling platform where young people share journeys that changed them and how they're paying it forward. storytelling platform where young people share journeys that changed them and how they're paying it forward. Host an annual Youth Tourism Hero Awards at UN Tourism summits, celebrating those who exemplify values-driven travel. Cross-Industry and UN Collaborations UNICEF's U-Report platform shows the power of youth-led data in shaping policies. We can adapt this model to co-create travel policy feedback loops. UNESCO's Creative Cities Network and UN Habitat's Urban Youth Fund offer templates on how to localize global youth initiatives with creative and sustainable outcomes. Partner with the fashion, film, and gaming industries all of which shape youth identity to build campaigns around ethical travel fashion, cinematic cultural storytelling, and travel-based virtual gaming worlds with impact missions. Strategic Priorities for a Youth-Centred Tourism Future Build Youth Tourism Leadership Launch a Global Youth Tourism Leadership Program Establish Regional Tourism Youth Hubs that integrate local wisdom with global perspective. Integrate Responsible Travel Education Embed travel ethics modules in national curricula Create open-source digital courses on sustainability and cultural diplomacy. Facilitate Youth Mobility Advocate for Youth Travel Visas and more equitable visa access for travelers from the Global South. Scale up youth exchange programs, twinning cities and schools for real cultural immersion. A Vision of Youth as Heroes of Tomorrow's Tourism This is not just a policy platform - it is a global movement. A movement to reimagine travel as a force for peace, understanding, and regeneration. A movement where young people don't just explore the world, they heal it, protect it, and tell its stories with heart and honour. If elected, I commit to making this vision real. Because the future of tourism isn't just about where we go, it's about who we become when we get there.
