Youngsters view travel as ‘life experience’

Australians between the ages 18 and 35 believe travelling to new places gives them an advantage with would-be employers, according to results from a new research commissioned by Contiki Holidays.

Contiki’s annual Travel Trends Research this year focussed on the impact of travelling overseas on careers, and included views from over 500 Aussies who participated in compiling the “Skilled Set” with most never having been on a trip with the operator.

“Travel is not just play anymore; it sharpens their skills and broadens their career horizons,” Managing Director Contiki Holidays, Tammy Marshall said.

Almost 97 per cent of those surveyed believed travel gave them additional skills to help their career or life in general, with 76 per cent believing those skills was a better understanding of different customs and cultures. 71 per cent believed they would gain better awareness of world issues.

Meanwhile, 76 per cent thought they would develop people skills whilst on the road, something they viewed as unattainable in the workplace, and 58 per cent said they would gain the ability to budget. 51 per cent said they would develop stronger problem solving/decision making skills.

“The research revealed career prospects and the strong connections with that and where they go as well as where they’ve been,” Ms Marshall said.

Developing skills to better deal with different personalities in the workplace also ranked highly with 63 per cent believing travel helped sharpen skills, while over half (55 per cent) believed it helps make them a better employee.

“The positive response 18 to 35s have toward taking holidays in relation to their professional and personal lives indicate the days where young people had to make a choice between scaling the glove or climbing the career ladder are long gone. Today’s generation believe it is an essential part of both their professional and personal development,” Ms Marshall said.

Research also showed 1.7 million 18 to 35 year old Australians have a desire and intend to travel in the next three to four years, with 1.1 million currently saving to travel.