PersonnelToday.com reports that on returning from their summer holiday, nine out of 10 people would relish the prospect of taking a “gap” in terms of a career break lasting at least five months.

The gap travel market is big business. Recent figures show that gap travellers are spending an astonishing £5billion a year on their trips. **

Whilst it has traditionally been perceived to be the domain of school leavers, market analyst Mintel has identified two distinct additions to the traditional “gapper” list. “Career gappers” who are young professionals taking an extended break and “denture venturers” who are in their 50's and taking a big trip before they retire.

This is backed up by Gap Year for Grown Ups, the UK's leading gap provider, who have seen a record growth in bookings - up 300% since 2005. The Gap Year for Grown Ups profile further endorses this trend - 61% are 25-50, 27% are over 50 and only 12% under 25.

Lauren Mackay, brand manager, Gap Year for Grown Ups says, “The market is constantly evolving and there is no average grown up traveller. More companies are realising the value of giving employees career breaks, retired people are feeling confident to travel further afield and many people just want to take a break and give something back.”

The length of trips is changing too.  Mackay adds, “ The perception of having to travel for a full gap year has gone. With programmes running from two weeks to 12 months the flexibility on what you do and when and where you go is enormous.”

The perceived value to an employee is priceless. In a recent survey by pollster YouGov on behalf of Direct Line Travel Insurance, one in three people said they would be more likely to remain with an organisation long-term if offered a career break.

Camilla Kinder, 30 took a career break and travelled with her husband Julian, 37 with Gap Year for Grown Ups in October 2007. Volunteers on the Kenya Camp Life programme, they lived and worked in a rural Kenyan village working on an ongoing community development programme involving the local primary school.
Camilla says “It has done us good to experience a powerful reality check on life and to realise how lucky we are. We hope that we have helped the school and local community. You feel that what you do is just a drop in the ocean, but in reality the ripples spread out further than you imagine.”

Ends -

*  Source: PersonnelToday.com
**  Source: Travelmail.co.uk

Company profile:
Gap Year for Grown Ups is a brand owned by Real Travel Ltd. Other brands in the portfolio include Real Gap and Real Sport Experience.

Real Travel Ltd has expanded the original concept of “life-changing” travel opportunities, and now offers around 500 projects and gap year travel ideas covering 45 countries over six continents.

Real Travel Ltd is the leading gap travel organiser offering the widest and most diverse range of programmes. These include: - volunteering, conservation, adventure travel and expeditions, sports, teaching English, round the world, paid working holidays and learning.

For further information please contact:-

Sarah Raine, PR Manager
Real Gap
1 Meadow Road
Tunbridge Wells
Kent TN1 2YG
T: 01892 516164
F: 01892 523172
E: Sarah.Raine@realgap.co.uk
www.realgap.co.uk / www.gapyearforgrownups.co.uk