A recent study done by StudentUniverse shows that Generation Z travellers (born between the mid-1990s and early 2010s) would not allow an economic crisis to get in the way of their travel plans. And what was more interesting was, they value sightseeing and cultural immersion over the crazy nightlife scene.
A quick story: When I started travelling without my parents, I would plan myself an entire itinerary to include as many tourist attractions and/or day trips as I could fit each day. Yet I was being told, and seeing, that travellers my age just wanted to party with an ambition of experiencing the worst hangover, then recover during the day. My response was that while I respect that, I believe that if I am going to pay all the expenses of a trip, it’s not all about the nightlife. Sure, I’ll experience the nightlife one or two times, but not all night long. One must immerse themselves in the local culture, visit the tourist attractions, and “take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but memories”. Surprisingly, today’s travel trends are showing an increased interest in sightseeing over partying.
Travel Purposes of Generation Z travellers
According to the study, today’s Generation Z travellers land in another country being more culturally aware and willing to dig into the destinations’ unique experiences which do not exist back home. The survey showed that the purposes of their trips included, but were not limited to:
- Sightseeing
- Experiencing the culture
- Trying new cuisines
- Admiring the nature
- Making new friends
Nightlife and clubbing accounted for less than 25% of Generation Z travellers.
To take this even further, almost 90% of Generation Z travellers said that travelling overseas would improve their career prospects. And more than 75% of them had a desire to take a working holiday or even volunteering abroad, in order to experience life in another country. In other words, today’s Generation Z travellers are driven by purpose. They embrace the perspective that “not all classrooms have 4 walls”, and look at travel as an immersive experience that helps them rediscover themselves and realize their potential in life.
My Perspectives on Travel
I couldn’t agree more with this study. My first solo trip was in 2012, when I decided to book a Contiki Tour in Spain. Prior to that, I did not have a good experience making friends on a school trip and I was worried that the same would happen. And when I was flying back to Canada from that trip, I was laughing at how I departed Canada all nervous! Since then, travel has opened my eyes to a wide range of perspectives. As I reflect on my travels, I have come to realize that travel made me a more well-rounded human being and helped me learn more of who I am. While travelling, either solo or with a group, I developed new skills which I never knew I had. And the most memorable experience was how travel transformed me into a daring adventure buff on my Contiki tour in New Zealand! As I continue travelling the world, travel continues to give me cool stories to tell my friends and family, and proves that dreams do come true!