Environmentally friendly travel and experiencing local customs are high on the agenda for
gap year travel tourists, research has found.
A survey for Conitki found that 84 per cent of young Australian travelers believed it was important to use local resources sparingly when touring to international destinations.
Some 87 per cent indicated that making efforts to support the local economy, such as by staying in local independent
hostels, was also important.
Managing director of Conitki Holidays, Tammy Marshall, noted that the "tides of travel are certainly turning" among young tourists.
She remarked: "This study reveals the importance that young travelers place on having authentic cultural experiences and their interest in minimizing any adverse social or environmental impact.
"Travel is evolving from a pastime primarily concentrated on the individual's enjoyment of a destination, to one in which the traveler and local community are mutually benefited."
More than half of those surveyed also claimed that they strive to make their travel carbon neutral, although only nine per cent managed it on their last trip.
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