Student Travel: Planning Basics, Trends, Top Destinations, and More

Student and youth travel offers an abundance of both business for tour operators and a strong return on learning and perspective for students who are fortunate enough to hit the road or take to the skies in search of new experiences. Come along as we explore various aspects of student travel, from top destinations, to planning tips, to ways to prove your travel planning excellence, and more.

STUDENT TRAVEL AND BUSINESS

As the student and youth travel segment continues to grow, tour operators looking to explore this realm of business are wise for doing so. According to the most recent Student & Youth Travel Association (SYTA) Student Travel Business Barometer (which offers up much-needed historical data on the growth of the student travel sector), student travel represents 27% of global tourism, with the estimated value of the student travel industry sitting at $185 billion. More than 26,700 student trips have been taken with SYTA members, and more than three million students have traveled with or used SYTA members.

PLANNING BASICS

When it comes to student and youth travel, timing is everything—planning early (and often earlier than you think) should always be the priority. Encourage educators and group leaders to get the ball rolling as early as possible, and work with educators ahead of time to determine what the purpose of their trip is (educational, performance, etc.) and what they'd like the takeaways for their students to be. With cost being one of the most common barriers preventing students from being able to experience travel, planning early also allows more time for securing scholarships and for fundraising opportunities to take place.

In addition to securing trip approval from the school board, educators are tasked with helping parents feel at ease about sending their child off in their care to a sometimes far away destination. Encourage educators to bring parents into the fold by including them in the process of planning from the very beginning—host meetings to share information and ask questions; over communicate; propose and discuss fundraising ideas; have a student or parent who has traveled on a similar trip in the past share their experience; address safety concerns and cell phone policies, etc.

It's also worth noting how challenging sourcing chaperones can be. Assist educators by working with them or the group leader to create materials outlining expectations from both parents and students.

STUDENT TRAVEL TRENDS

In 2026, student tour operators can expect to see some trends rising to the surface. Some notable trends include:

• Getting out in nature. More and more student groups are recognizing the benefits of spending more time outdoors, and are wanting experiences that allow time to soak up all that Mother Nature has to offer.

• Taking advantage of the off-season. During off-peak travel times, student groups are learning they’re often able to take advantage of heightened availability, lowered costs, and fewer crowds—a win all around.

• Enjoying sport-focused experiences. Whether it’s a private behind-the-scenes tour of a stadium or tickets to a professional match, students are eager to cheer on their favorite athletes and teams.

• Partaking in cultural immersion, STEM, and performance-based trips. While educator’s goals for their student trips vary, many groups are focusing heavily on workshops, voluntourism, showing off their performance skills, and more. 

2026 TOP STUDENT TRAVEL DESTINATIONS

If you’re considering planning student travel, get some inspiration by checking out these lists of top student travel destinations for 2026, as chosen by SYTA member tour operators.

UNITED STATES

• Atlanta, Georgia

• Boston, Massachusetts

• Chicago, Illinois

• New York City, New York

• Orlando, Florida

• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

• Southern California

• Tennessee

• Virginia

• Washington, DC

NORTH AMERICA

• Mexico City

• Montreal

• Niagara Falls

• Ottawa

• Puerto Rico

• Quebec

• Toronto

• Vancouver

• Winnipeg

• Yucatan Peninsula 

INTERNATIONAL

• Australia

• Costa Rica

• France

• Germany

• Ireland

• Italy

• Japan

• Spain

• Switzerland

• United Kingdom 

EMERGING

• Alabama

• Branson, Missouri

• New Orleans, Louisiana

• San Antonio, Texas

• Savannah, Georgia

BUCKET LIST

• Greece

• Hawaii

• Japan

• London

DEMONSTRATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE

SYTA, in partnership with Center for Student Travel Safety (CSTS), offers individuals and organizations the opportunity to voluntarily demonstrate their commitment to overall safety and risk management practices as it relates to student and youth travel, thanks to the Certified Student Travel Organization (CSTO) and Certified Student Travel Professional (CSTP) certifications.

Those individuals and/or organizations who complete these certifications have met or exceeded the minimum of 25 safety standards established by SYTA and CSTS, and thereby exhibit their credibility to travelers. If you're looking for a way to build confidence with student groups and prove to educators that you're the right fit for their trips, CSTO and CSTP certifications are wise. You can learn more by visiting syta.org/certification.

Written by Sarah Suydam, Managing Editor for Groups Today.

This article originally appeared in the May/Jun ’26 issue of Groups Today.