Gap year bookings - up not down?

Following a report on ‘Cash-strapped students turning their back on gap years’ (Observer Sunday May 13), David Stitt, MD of Real Gap Experience, the UK’s largest independent gap year provider, is keen to put the record straight.

“Our experience is directly opposed to what has been reported in the newspaper” he states. “Our market is growing fast, and we are on track to book over 8,000 people on gap years, career breaks and volunteer holidays in 2007. Thisis a 90% increase over 2006 and more than we have ever done before. From our view Gap Year travel is on the increase.”

The newspaper featured concerns over money and future careers. However figures show that students are more likely to get a better, higher paid job after a constructive gap year, and are also more likely to complete their university degree. Savvy employers generally seek out confident and experienced applicants who have seen more of the world. Milkround research on gap years showed that respondents were nearly unanimous in citing gap years as beneficial to their career and personal development.

Safety is, of course, a primary concern for all parents, but accidents happen anywhere. Travelling with a reputable company has far fewer unknown factors than completely independent travel, and all reputable organisations will provide 24/7 emergency contact lines, both locally overseas and here in the UK.

Following First Choice’s recent acquisition of i-to-i, Real Gap Experience (and sister programmes Gap year for Grown Ups and Real Sport Experience) is the front runner in the independent gap year arena. And with turnover predicted to top £11m in 2007, the company has enjoyed phenomenal growth from its start in 2003 with just two staff and a telephone.

The company now employs 40 people in its Tunbridge Wells HQ; big enough to operate efficiently but small enough to know its customers by name.

Offering programmes in over 40 countries, the company has more choice of projects and destinations than any other gap year provider, and the team’s specialist knowledge is second to none when it comes to gap year options.

For more information visit Realgap.co.uk.