Last month over 650 leading youth travel professionals from more than 120 countries gathered in Dublin for the 23rd World Youth and Student Travel Conference, WYSTC 2014.

One of the key themes underpinning the leading global youth, student and educational travel event, which was held at the Convention Centre Dublin, was the sheer power of youth travel. With its performance critical to the future trajectory of global travel, the message echoed by all speakers was that tourism's fastest-growing sector needs to be fully embraced.

In his opening speech, David Chapman, Director General of WYSE Travel Confederation, said: "As the only global event dedicated to youth travel's development, WYSTC's success lies in its ability to encourage an entire industry to come together under one roof.

"Our research reveals that this lucrative market is now estimated at being worth over US$230 billion every year, with young people accounting for one in five international tourists and the spend by young travellers predicted to rise by 47% over the coming decade. The gathering of delegates from all corners of the globe serves as a reminder of the immense opportunities the booming youth market offers to the travel industry and visitor economies worldwide."

Recognising the value of the conference's educational sessions at previous WYSTC events, WYSE Travel Confederation boosted this year's programme to include over 30 stimulating seminars and workshops alongside pre-organised business appointments and daily networking events. These sessions were led by more than 40 prominent experts in their fields who were chosen to champion the latest thinking and leave delegates motivated to drive the youth travel industry forward.

Another theme which emerged from the educational programme was that, with young travellers known for being at the leading edge of change and innovation, it is vital that those catering for these early adopters of new technology ensure they stay ahead of social media and mobile trends.

As such, WYSTC 2014's high-profile speakers included Skyscanner's Filip Filipov, whose opening keynote session on the future of travel encouraged attendees to consider how new technologies and artificial intelligence will come together to change travel experiences over the next decade. He was complemented by Sir Ranulph Fiennes, the world's greatest living explorer who has made a career out of encouraging young people to challenge themselves, who delivered the inspiring closing keynote address.

As he welcomed attendees to the conference, Chapman reminded delegates that the socio-economic benefits for the young traveller are just as important to consider, a point that was reiterated by the UNWTO's Carlos Vogeler who joined him on stage. Vogeler said: "Never before have so many people travelled to so many places to explore and engage. The focus for these globally-oriented citizens is to get to know the true culture and the people who make a destination what it is."

Before Filipov's presentation, Paschal Donohoe - the Republic of Ireland's Minister of Transport, Tourism and Sport - stressed how instrumental overseas experiences can be in shaping future societies and why Ireland is looking to support the youth travel sector as a destination.

He explained: "We [Ireland] are a small, open and changing country where all our young people spend time abroad, whether through necessity or choice and all bring back valuable experience. My trip to America as a younger man gave me an appreciation of the importance of gaining an understanding of other cultures and the nature of globalisation is that there are now more ideas spreading across the world in a day than used to happen in a year."

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WYSTC 2014 Conference Sends Clear Message That Youth Is The travel Industry's Fastest Growing Sector