Youth Tourism in South Africa: The English Language Travel Sector

Abstract

Language travel has gone largely unnoticed as a key contributor of youth tourism. The global language travel market is dominated by the UK and the US, with Canada, Australia, Ireland, Malta, and New Zealand also recognizing the importance of language travel for tourism. Little attention has been paid to language travel in research, including in South Africa. This article reviews the organization and development of the language travel industry in South Africa as an important aspect of the country's youth tourism economy. South Africa's language travel industry is explored in terms of its global position, development, size, key role players, structure, operation, and significance for the broader tourism industry. It is shown significant differences exist in the operation and source markets between inland and coastal language schools.