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.

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.