Last year 83% of all bookings taken by specialist travel provider Gap Year for Grown Ups were from women travellers, most of them travelling solo. Of the 83%, almost half the bookings were from women aged between 30 - 40 years, about another half from women aged between 41 - 60 years and about 5% from women aged over 60.

Gap Year for Grown Ups (www.gapyearforgrownups.co.uk) provides travel opportunities and voluntary work around the world for adults aged 30 plus. The company has gone from strength to strength since its launch nearly two years ago. “Times have changed,” says Marketing Manager Rachael Wood, “a mature gap year is now seen as a positive thing, and it doesn't have to be a whole year. We offer a wide range of programmes from two weeks upwards. Our clients come to us for all sorts of reasons; if they want some time out, want to rethink their life, missed out on the ‘gap year' thing first time around, or just want to do something worthwhile on their holiday.” 

Overall last year, Africa was the most visited destination by ‘grown up gappers'. The most popular African programmes were those involving animals and working with underdeveloped communities. The Monkey Rehabilitation programme in South Africa attracted lots of volunteers, followed by The Community Volunteer Project in Ghana. Both offer the opportunity to make a difference. At the Monkey Rehab project 100% of bookings came from women, as did the more specialist Zambia Medical Project, and the South African Horseback Conservation Voluntary Project.

David Stitt, Managing Director of Gap Year for Grown Ups, and sister brands Real Gap Experience and Real Sport Experience (www.realgap.co.uk), notes that there has always been some female bias in the gap year market. “Historically we have always seen more females than males traveling. For this reason we launched Real Sport Experience in November 2006 in order to encourage a ‘new' way to encourage young males to volunteer."

In 2006 85% of all GYFGU travellers to Asia were women. The Thai Adventure programme, exploring Thailand off the beaten track, was particularly popular. The Borneo Orang Utan project in Malaysia also attracted lots of bookings; 92% of which were women. Of those that journeyed to Latin America with GYFGU last year, 86% were women, and 40% of those over 50. Popular projects included the Ecuador Street Children Volunteers and the Guatemala Community Outreach Programme.

For more information on any of these projects
Call Gap Year for Grown Ups 01892 701881
Or visit www.gapyearforgrownups.co.uk

For media information/ photos etc please contact:
Jennette Baxter PR Consultant 01342 316337 / 0794 0174 303 pr@baxter1.clara.net