Young travellers 'have a responsible attitude'

With the popularity of gap year travel booming, many young Brits are looking further into their trips to ensure they aren't damaging the local environments they visit.

"Many young Brits are keen to ensure overseas trips are ethical before booking their travel insurance", one travel expert suggested.

"People are worried about carbon emmissions and their impact on local communities they visit. Many want to plan their trips around providing volunteer work so they try to find those that need the most help - it's a great travelling ethos"

According to worldwide work placement specialist i-to-i, people in their early twenties are not prepared to head abroad regardless of the effects.

It claimed youngsters seem to be very caring about people who live outside their own country.

Most of these trips are to African nations like Namibia and South American countries like Brazil. These trips seem to be the most popular as they are often recognised as the safest volunteer program schemes.

The company added the attitude of such travellers was "very impressive" and that they represent their country on a global scale "immaculately".

Operations director Bruce Haxton said this demographic is "extremely aware and passionate about their impact, not just on the environment, but the communities they travel to and stay with and the developing world as a whole".

As a side benefit, those who choose to travel after university will be enhacning their cv's with volunteer work. Experts have claimed that employers are looking for someone that "stands out from the crowd" in the current job market.

In related news, a recent study from i-to-i revealed 31 per cent of people worry about the effect their trips abroad have on the environment.

A further 29 per cent expressed guilt about their lack of involvement with the local community and 25 per cent admitted the fact they do not give to charity made them feel bad.