Half of young travellers 'book via internet'

The critical role that the internet now plays in the travel market has been illustrated by a new study showing that 50 per cent of young travellers book their trips online.

This is an increase from just one in ten people who made their bookings on the internet five years ago, according to the World Youth & Student Educational Travel Confederation report.

It is not only for bookings that travellers access the internet before jetting off, as 80 per cent use the web as a resource for researching their trip and the destination they are heading for.

Australia, North America and France are currently the top destinations for young people going on trips, Travelmole reports.

Young backpackers are also keen on Australia, along with New Zealand and Thailand.

Almost three-quarters of the respondents to the survey said they went travelling to explore the world, learn a language, do volunteer work or study.