Gap year travellers 'getting older'

Gap-year travelling is no longer the preserve of the young, according to research, as older people show an increasing interest in escaping the strain of daily life and work.

According to a survey by American Express, nearly four in ten (39 per cent) working Britons admit to having no time for themselves at the end of the working day.

Research has also shown that nearly a third (29 per cent) of Brits are planning to take a break from their jobs and 90 per cent of gap-year travellers are now over the age of 30.

This audience has an advantage over its younger counterparts – a higher level of disposable income, leading these travellers to be known as 'flashpackers'.

Around eight per cent of Brits taking gap years now reportedly spend up to £10,000 on their trip, regularly jetting off on long-haul journeys to luxurious destinations.

Chris Rolland of American Express Insurance said: "For many working Brits it seems that there are never enough hours in the day.

"To escape from this, an increasing number of people are choosing to take a gap year at a later stage in life, having a financial advantage which enables them to travel in a little more luxury compared to their younger counterparts."

Posted by Carrie, 03 July 2008 17:03

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