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02 March 2005
- MIND THE GAP -
Foreign & Commonwealth Office launches
GoGapYear.com
With thousands of young Britons planning
to take a gap year or taking a career break to go travelling, the
Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) today launches a new ‘gap
travel’ campaign to help ensure they ‘mind the gap’ and avoid common
travelling traumas.
Research carried out on behalf of the
FCO in January 2005 shows that approximately one third* of 16-30
year olds have been on a gap year or intend to do so. However, a
huge 71% of these young people don’t view insurance as being essential
for travelling abroad despite 45%* admitting to being far more adventurous
and experimental on holiday. Of these 45%, 38% enjoyed taking part
in dangerous sports and activities. This marks an 8% increase
from 2004 where only 30% said they were more adventurous.**
With this in mind, the FCO is launching
a newly created fun and informative website,
www.GoGapYear.com, specifically targeting gap travellers. The
website aims to ensure all British nationals heading abroad on gap
travel - travelling for a period of at least two months - are properly
prepared. The site offers invaluable advice and tips on issues such
as alcohol and drugs, in addition to hosting competitions and games.
The FCO research also highlighted the
technology savvy nature of today’s youth with almost a quarter of
those having been on a gap year or intending to do so, saying that
their ‘must have’ item on holiday would be a mobile phone, whereas
only 5% chose their partner!***.
Baroness Symons, FCO Minister for Consular
Affairs, said:
“Each year we see an ever-growing number
of young people taking a break from their studies or career to go
travelling. The reasons for doing so can vary. There is the challenge
of doing something exciting and different, as well as the opportunity
to experience new cultures and broaden your horizons.
Whatever the motivation, travel is
one of life’s great thrills. But there are risks too. The world
can be an unfamiliar and unpredictable place. By taking some simple
precautions, many problems abroad can be avoided. This campaign
is about getting geared up for travel and making sure gap year travellers
are prepared for things that could go wrong.
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