Melbourne’s reputation as a popular youth and student destination has gained added status with the announcement that the Australian city will host an international convention for the industry in October 2006. 

Mr Garry Kingshott, CEO, Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau (MCVB), announced that The World Youth and Student Travel Convention (WYSTC) will be held at the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre and Crown Promenade, 7-13 October 2006. The Convention is expected to bring more than 800 delegates from 400 companies and 80 countries to Melbourne.

“Youth and student travel is one of the fastest growing segments of the global travel market, contributing around $2.21 billion to the Australian economy. In 2003, 459,000 backpackers came to Australia and almost half of these young travellers visited Victoria,” Mr Kingshott said.

“The WYSTC will put the spotlight on Melbourne as a city for those seeking adventure, education and culture. This is an important event for Melbourne as this Convention is where the future of global youth and student travel is shaped,” Mr Kingshott said.

WYSTC Director, Susan Goldstein, said: “Bringing the conference to Melbourne is our way of saluting and acknowledging Australia’s immense contribution to the industry, and its recognition and documentation of the commercial and social value of youth and student travel for both sending and receiving nations.”

Mr Kingshott said that in the last month alone, MCVB has won eight new international events for Melbourne worth more than $62 million to the State of Victoria.