Gappers travelling for fun not money

More than half of gap year travellers go abroad because they want to have fun rather than for more judicious reasons.

Fifty-two per cent of gappers are travelling for fun, compared to only 20 per cent who want to improve their future job prospects, according to new research.

And despite the widely reported problems of student debt, only six per cent are taking time out to earn money, a survey by Findagap.com shows.

The majority of gappers are not worried about their safety while travelling abroad, the survey revealing it to be a concern for only 13 per cent.

Australia is the most popular destination for gap year travellers, coming out on top for 52 per cent of gappers. Brazil was in second with 33 per cent of the vote, followed by Thailand, New Zealand and the USA.

However, when it comes to finding work gappers look closer to home, with Spain the top destination and the UK making the top five, which also included the US, Australia and Canada.

Andrew Fidler, managing director of Findagap.com, said: "Despite the pressures that students are under to achieve good exam results and get good jobs, it's reassuring that so many of them are keen to enjoy their gap years, travel and learn about other cultures.

"Students who have been in full-time education for 15 years deserve to have a break and take the opportunity to travel and we'd say to all would-be travellers: Take the chance while it's there. There's plenty of time to settle down and work in the future ... enjoy it!"

On Monday, a survey by America Express Travel Insurance suggested that more than half of gap year travellers from the UK were over 25, while one third were over 55.