Next-gen navigators: empowering youth as champions of purposeful travel
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G20 Summit

Next-gen navigators: empowering youth as champions of purposeful travel

Harry Theoharis

We live in extraordinary times. Never before has humanity had such seamless access to the world. Today, 80% of global youth (ages 15–24) own a smartphone and are more globally connected than any previous generation. With one click, they can board a virtual flight to another continent – or a real one. 

Just a few generations ago, international travel was a privilege for diplomats and the wealthy elite. For many of our parents, a single overseas trip marked a milestone; for our grandparents, it was almost unimaginable. Today, travel is an expectation. We book a flight from Paris to Johannesburg simply because we felt restless on a Friday night. We chase “100 Destinations Before You Die” bucket lists, collect passport stamps like trophies, and share our journeys on social media. 

But with great access comes great responsibility. And the time has come to move from passive tourism to purposeful travel.

Why Youth Matter

Globally, young people account for over 23% of all international travellers, and their numbers are only rising. According to the UN Tourism, youth travel generates over $300 billion annually. They’re adventurous, tech-savvy, culturally curious – and crucially, more open to values-based travel. This is a powerful force waiting to be activated for good.

If elected Secretary-General, I pledge to centre my strategy on one fundamental belief: Youth are not just tourists; they are stewards, storytellers, and changemakers.

The best place to start this journey is through education. 

The Global Youth Tourism Initiative (GYTI)

To bring this belief to life, I propose a Global Youth Tourism Initiative (GYTI) – a flagship platform to educate, engage, empower, and inspire young travellers to become heroes of responsible tourism.

Educate

  • Develop global tourism literacy curricula with other UN agencies like UNESCO and UNEP, integrating modules on travel ethics, climate impact, cultural preservation, and digital storytelling.
  • Introduce Tourism Labs in Schools – experiential programs simulating real-world tourism challenges and encouraging innovation.

2. Engage

  • Create a UN Youth Tourism Corps: Young ambassadors trained to run workshops, peer-learning circles, and awareness campaigns in their communities.
  • Partner with platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Meta to amplify stories of youth who’ve made a difference through tourism – turning their reels into real change.

3. Empower

  • Launch the Youth Tourism Changemakers Fellowship, offering mentorship, seed funding, and policy incubation support for tourism-based social enterprises.
  • Collaborate with the private sector—such as Booking.com’s Travel Sustainable initiative or Intrepid Travel’s youth expeditions—to give youth real-world exposure.

4. Inspire

  • Develop a My Travel for Good storytelling platform where young people share journeys that changed them and how they’re paying it forward.
  • Host an annual Youth Tourism Hero Awards at UN Tourism summits, celebrating those who exemplify values-driven travel.

Cross-Industry and UN Collaborations

  • UNICEF’s U-Report platform shows the power of youth-led data in shaping policies. We can adapt this model to co-create travel policy feedback loops.
  • UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network and UN Habitat’s Urban Youth Fund offer templates on how to localize global youth initiatives with creative and sustainable outcomes.
  • Partner with the fashion, film, and gaming industries all of which shape youth identity to build campaigns around ethical travel fashion, cinematic cultural storytelling, and travel-based virtual gaming worlds with impact missions.

Strategic Priorities for a Youth-Centred Tourism Future

Build Youth Tourism Leadership

  • Launch a Global Youth Tourism Leadership Program
  • Establish Regional Tourism Youth Hubs that integrate local wisdom with global perspective.

Integrate Responsible Travel Education

  • Embed travel ethics modules in national curricula
  • Create open-source digital courses on sustainability and cultural diplomacy.

Facilitate Youth Mobility

  • Advocate for Youth Travel Visas and more equitable visa access for travelers from the Global South.
  • Scale up youth exchange programs, twinning cities and schools for real cultural immersion.

A Vision of Youth as Heroes of Tomorrow’s Tourism

This is not just a policy platform – it is a global movement. A movement to reimagine travel as a force for peace, understanding, and regeneration. A movement where young people don’t just explore the world, they heal it, protect it, and tell its stories with heart and honour.

If elected, I commit to making this vision real. Because the future of tourism isn’t just about where we go, it’s about who we become when we get there.