Gap year info

History of Gap Year market

The gap year market has its post-war roots. It was believed that by getting young people to travel the world and meet each other, there would be greater understanding of different cultures and a greater chance of world peace. In the 1960's, backpacking and the hippie trails to India evolved and by the early 1980's, student travel bacame more and mroe popular. By the late 1990's, the concept of travelling during a gap year had become a well-established concept†.

Three main segments...

Pre-university: Those taking time off from study to broaden their skills and knowledge and experience new cultures before starting university. Around 65% of our customers are from this segment.

Career Gappers: Those taking time out after university and between jobs (becoming very common). At Gap Year Diver we do get a lot of people who are undecided about what they want to do in life! Some people have been made redundant and wish to pursue a life-long dream of becoming a diving instructor. Some join us to take a break from it all and just enjoy life for a while! Others take it a step further and train with us with the intention of moving and living overseas. Around 30% of our customers are from this segment.

Early Retirees: Those aged between 50 and 70 who are 'empty nesters' (kids left home) and have finished their careers and want to experience the world! If you've seen a lot of the world but very little underwater...there's a whole new world to see before it's too late...

General benefits of a gap year

Parents, universities and employers are all becoming more supportive of gap travellers and the number of gap years taken each year continues to grow. A well-structured year out can significantly contribute to one's personal development and provide a wealth of new experiences which can broaden one's horizons.

Other benefits of taking a gap year are thought to include a lower drop-out rate at university, increased ability to retain a career, an enhanced CV, improved communication skills, improved general knowledge, greater initiative and increased global awareness. All sounds pretty good...

†Mintel Report