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In a move which sees it target the lucrative youth/budget traveller market for the first time, Thomas Cook Signature has partnered with YHA Australia to offer YHA’s range of high quality budget accommodation throughout the UK’s largest high street travel retail network.
It is hoped that the deal will allow Thomas Cook, Co-op and Going Places agents to tap into this growing market, which was previously only the realm of youth/budget travel specialists.
The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) estimates that over 20% of international tourists travelling the world in 2010 were young people. Furthermore, research shows that youth travel is set to occupy an increasingly important part of the global tourism landscape.
Over 128,000 British backpackers visit Australia each year, each staying an average 68 nights and spending $7,660 AUD per trip making this the highest yielding segment, spending nearly twice as much as the average international traveller.
By joining forces with YHA Australia, the leading backpacker network in Australia, Thomas Cook Signature is giving high street retail agents access to a range of excellent quality budget accommodation for the first time. With options ranging from the multi-award winning Syndey Central YHA to the more rural Halls Gap YHA in the beautiful Grampians Region of Victoria, and the idyllic Queensland beach location of Magnetic Island YHA. With the majority of hostels on the popular East Coast boasting swimming pools or spas, YHA offers a consistently high standard of budget accommodation to all independent travellers, regardless of age.
YHA Australia Marketing Manager for Europe, Mandy Monk, stated “We are very pleased to partner with Thomas Cook Signature to provide a range of products that are easily accessible to our growing number of customers via the high street. The budget and backpacker segment is continuing to grow and despite common misconceptions these travellers have disposable income, a strong propensity to travel and are generally less effected by issues such as the Global financial crisis, making them an ideal target group in these more difficult times. We welcome the foresight shown by Thomas Cook Signature to tap into this lucrative segment through its independent agent partners.”
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
