Gen Z Travel Habit Study

Travel booking website StudentUniverse recently conducted a research report, The State of Student and Youth Travel in 2023. The study unveiled Gen Z travel habits, of interest to family travelers.

According to the report, 87 percent of respondents indicated vocational travel (working holidays and study abroad) as important to their future career. Seventy-eight percent expressed a desire to enjoy new experiences while traveling. Young travelers are interested in cultural experiences, with the top five draws being sightseeing (70 percent), experiencing new culture (68 percent), trying new cuisine (59 percent), exploring nature (58 percent) and meeting new people (37 percent). Only 21 percent are interested in nightlife and clubbing.

Despite budget concerns, Gen Z travelers spend three times more on travel than the average international traveler. While 76 percent stated financial costs were a travel concern, only 8 percent indicated they would stop traveling due to finances, and 65 percent will aim to find the cheapest travel options.

While Gen Z is generally concerned about the climate, 49 percent of respondents said climate change has little or no impact on their travel plans. LGBTQIA+ concerns are important to Gen Z travelers, with 82 percent stating they would be less likely to visit a country that wasn’t LGBTQIA+-friendly.

The survey was sent to 18–25-year-olds in full-time education. There were 4,000 respondents total, divided evenly across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. For more information on methodology and to view the full report, visit the website.