Although 62% of teens reported traveling with family members, 4 in 10 rejected “vacation” and chose another motivator (21% Cultural Exploration, 12% Heritage, Other 3.5%, Service 1.5%) as the primary reason for their trip. FTF analysts believe this reflects a greater emphasis on learning above relaxation while traveling, and the teens’ need to justify the expense of travel as an investment in the future.
More than half of the teen applicants traveled outside the United States by their 18th birthday, a number that increased from 49% to 52% since last year’s report.
Heritage trips, when teens travel to explore their roots, represent 9% of all travel tales, an increase of 50% in Despite their expense, the growth in heritage trips demonstrates how valuable they are among immigrant families. Top destinations included China, The Philippines, India and the Dominican Republic, in line with the latest U.S. immigration statistics.
“Families continue to support all types of teen travel as an important component of education,” notes Senior Editor, Fran Falkin. “Whether for exploring culture, experiencing the outdoors, discovering family roots, or enjoying time en famille, parents endorse – and find ways to finance – teen travel opportunities.”
Teens Lead Travel Trends Among General Leisure Travelers
Although 62% of teens reported traveling with family members, 4 in 10 rejected “vacation” and chose another motivator (21% Cultural Exploration, 12% Heritage, Other 3.5%, Service 1.5%) as the primary reason for their trip. FTF analysts believe this reflects a greater emphasis on learning above relaxation while traveling, and the teens’ need to justify the expense of travel as an investment in the future.
The most popular blog topics were service / mission trips, and heritage trips to meet grandparents. Popular destinations included Nicaragua and The Philippines.
A majority of blogs expressed an appreciation for the natural world, or gratitude for a privileged lifestyle and for the sacrifices made by family.
The decline in travel within North America was matched by increases in student travel to Asia, the Caribbean and Europe. Travel to Africa, the Middle East and the Pacific remained constant, while there was a slight decrease in trips to Central and South America year over year.
Family Travel Forum’s annual teen scholarship is hosted on MyFamilyTravels.com, the best source for parents and grandparents planning fun family vacations.
Tatiana is the news coordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes monitoring the hundreds of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skimming the most important according to our strategy.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
