Gen Z’s Travel Craze Could Change Education: Are Classrooms Ready?

In the past, travelling was seen as an interruption to studying. Students would spend months studying during their term and would go on a trip during their holiday. However, travelling has become an increasing part of many young peoples lives now. They are using travelling to learn about new cultures, lifestyles and experiences.

So could this impact the way education is delivered?

Travel has become an important part of many young Indian’s lives. A 2026 report carried out by Airbnb shows that 7 out of 10 people questioned would prefer to travel on several short breaks rather than 1 long break throughout the year. Many young people want to get personal experiences and discover new things from the local areas rather than going on traditional sightseeing trips. Although this is not representative of all young people in India it gives an insight into how travel preferences are changing for Gen Z. 

When the World Becomes a Classroom

A student studying Indian history may learn about the ancient buildings, cultural traditions and movements from their textbooks. However, if they visit a historical building, museum or archaeological site this gives them a whole new perspective. They are able to see the buildings, understand what surrounds them and make links to what they have learned.

This can be applied to any subject. If a student visits a farming community they can learn about agriculture and the economy of rural areas. If they visit a coastal region they can learn about the marine ecosystem, conservation and fishing communities. If they visit a business hub they can learn about how organisations, markets and customers work from a management perspective.

This allows students to make links between their learning and real life. This is known as experiential learning.

How can travelling impact the future of education?

As travelling has become increasingly popular, educational institutions can consider how they deliver knowledge to students. Schools and colleges can create more meaningful experiences for students.

Learning outside of textbooks

Students can relate their learning to real life examples. If they are learning about geography they can see the landscape and ecosystems. If they are learning about economics they can learn about the local market, industries and livelihoods.

Better understanding of culture

India has a variety of different languages, traditions, communities and lifestyles. If students travel to different regions they will learn about the diversity of the country. Being respectful to people from different backgrounds can encourage empathy, understanding of culture and better understanding of differences in society.

Acquiring new skills

Travelling often requires budgeting, time management, navigating and decision making. This can encourage independence, problem solving, communication and flexibility. These skills can be used in both education and the working world.

Career opportunities

If a student is interested in conservation they may gain a better understanding of the area by visiting a biodiversity centre with a guide. If a student is considering a career in the hospitality industry they can learn from observing how hotels or tourism businesses operate. Visits to laboratories, courts, farms, museums and industrial units can also help students see what their desired career would be like.

Is the Indian Education System Prepared?

The Indian National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has recognised the importance of experiential learning. It advises that ‘hands-on’, arts integrated, sports integrated and interdisciplinary activities should be included. They also advise that critical thinking, creativity and practical understanding should be focused on rather than too much rote learning.

This means that educational institutions can provide students with more opportunities to learn from their environment. Field trips, educational visits, community projects, nature studies and interacting with the industry can all be used.

However, simply going on a trip won’t mean it is educational. Students need to have opportunities to observe, ask questions, interact and reflect. Teachers can help by providing guided activities, discussions, research tasks and follow up projects.

A study carried out in 2025 looked at the cognitive, affective and behavioural outcomes of educational tourism amongst university students. 

Can all Students Afford to Learn From Travel?

Travelling can be expensive, time consuming, require safety considerations and reliable transport. Not all students will be able to travel regularly. International travel is also not accessible to many families.

If educational institutions start to consider travelling as an essential part of learning they may be creating another privilege for those from more financially stable backgrounds.

Instead of focusing on how far students are travelling or where they are going, local museums, historical sites, nearby villages, public institutions, nature reserves and community organisations can all become valuable learning opportunities. Schools and colleges can provide affordable field trips and community activities.

Education may Need to Go Outside

Although Gen Z are interested in travelling it shows that they would like to experience the world. However, the real benefit of this is what they can take from their travels.

The future of education doesn’t mean that schools will no longer exist or textbooks will become irrelevant. It just means that we need to create better links between academic knowledge and real life. By planning travelling carefully we can help build this link.

Maybe we should be thinking less about whether students should travel during their education and more about how we can make the world around them meaningful to their learning.