Gold Coast millennials more likely to choose volunteering over boozy holidays

MILLENNIALS don’t want to lay on the beach drinking cocktails anymore, according to a leading travel company. Instead, they’re opting for a totally different type of holiday instead.

MILLENNIALS are choosing volunteer trips over boozy, relaxing holidays.

Since adding volunteer holidays to its list of services, Gold Coast company The Global Work & Travel Co. has more than doubled its business.

Given that more than 72 per cent of the company’s business is 18-25 year olds, CEO Jürgen Himmelmann said he can see young people want more than simple holidays now.

Photo of Jurgen Himmelmann and Cassandra Mietzel. Photo by Richard Gosling

“We noticed there was a big growing interest to actually go overseas and not just go to Bali and lay on the beach for two weeks but actually go off the beaten track and make a difference for an important cause,” he said.

“A lot of people, especially young people, are more conscious about the environment or the impact they’re having.

“And it’s not just the feel good factor, it’s fun as well. “You can go to Thailand and lay on the beach and drink cocktails or you can go a kilometre into the jungle and help raise orphaned monkeys that have been rescued.

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“You get to see the real side of the country and do something good.”

More young people are choosing volunteer holidays over boozy tropical holidays. Photo by Richard Gosling

According to a survey held by Intrepid Travel, 70 per cent of travellers wanted to “go places less visited by mainstream tourists” and “see and do something new”.

They also tipped that in 2019, millenials will drive responsible business in the tourism sector and opt for challenges over cocktails.

Mr Himmelmann said the most popular volunteer holidays The Global Work & Travel Co. offer are wildlife related in South East Asia.

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“We have a rescue centre in Bali that looks after different animals that have been rescued from the illegal animal smuggling trade,” he said.

“We have Rescue Paws, which we started ourself in Thailand where volunteers look after street dogs that have been injured or dumped and try to adopt them out.

“And we have another called Trunks and Tails, which is an elephant sanctuary where elephants have come from sad backgrounds and the volunteers feed them and help them get healthy.”

The Gold Coast is a strong area for the company, with the third most amount of travellers coming from the Glitter Strip after Sydney and Melbourne.

“A lot of Gold Coasters love the Gold Coast, but they don’t want to be stuck in the bubble their whole life,” he said.

“They want to see the world and come back.”