 |
A survey of members by The Student and Youth Travel Association (SYTA) found that for many U.S. students, Canada plays an important role in teaching them about other cultures. Often, Canada is the first foreign country they visit outside the U.S. Though the experience might be as brief as a one-day trip over the border, it can become a fantastic voyage of discovery that leads to a new-found appreciation for other cultures and sparks a lifetime love of travel.
Over 98% of SYTA Active members – tour operators with a wide range of services targeting the youth travel markets –offer programs to Canada, ranging from one-day trips to extended stays as part of a class curriculum, athletic or music presentations, or cultural programs. Members noted that, while differences are immediately obvious in major cities like Quebec, where the language is French, youth travelers also learn to appreciate differences throughout other parts of Canada where English is spoken. Social and political differences soon become apparent, such as the facts that Canada has a different currency and political system. Even minor differences come as a pleasant surprise. One tour operator recalled a young school group that was fascinated to learn that Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October instead of the last week of November because their harvest comes earlier.
Canada's impact on U.S. students is just as dramatic whether they travel hundreds of miles from distant states or only a few miles across the border. Windsor, Ontario, a city on the U.S.-Canadian border, is actually more southern than many American cities. “Yet, we sometimes get calls from travelers just miles away on the U.S. side, asking us about the weather,” says Mo Regnier, president, Great Adventure Tours, which hosts over 15,000 students annually from the U.S. to many Canadian destinations.
Regnier feels that far too many American students don't get the opportunity to travel outside their own states, so they often remain uninformed about even the most everyday things in the outside world. For them, traveling to Canada can be a real eye-opener. Cities like Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, and Halifax offer diverse cultures, and a world that is at once familiar and also very different from the U.S.
“Traveling just a few hours from home, students discover a world they never knew existed that's literally in their own backyard,” said Regnier. “They are surprised to find out, for example, that our dollar currency is called the loonie. We might both speak English, but we have different spellings and even pronunciations for some words. These differences can seem insignificant to most people, but when you're young and you've never known any other culture but your own, they are revelations that can have a dramatic impact on your view of the world.”
“Canada is America's true neighbor to the north,” remarked Randy Julian, president, Julian Tours, and Chairman and CEO of the National Tour Association (NTA), a trade group for U.S. tour operators and related businesses. “It is a friendly, diverse destination that offers U.S. students a vital opportunity to experience an international lifestyle without leaving North America.”
“Quebec is the closest ‘European' style city for American travelers,” observed Julian. “It is convenient and affordable, accessible by motorcoach. Visiting this unique city brings the French language to life without the expense of flying to Europe.”
“It's an extraordinary experience for American students to be immersed in our educational system,” says Marty Rice, Manager of Leisure Travel, Tourism London member of SYTA. “They see similarities and differences even in people their own age. They come to appreciate that there's more to Canadian culture than what they might have heard about or seen in movies or on television.”
“Travel is an integral and valuable part of a well-rounded education. Our members frequently hear back from students about the many new friends they made and how their lives were forever changed by their trips. A trip to Canada can spark a lifelong interest and respect for other cultures,” remarked Michael Palmer, executive director, Student and Youth Travel Association. “Travel creates global citizens who grow up respecting and appreciating the wide diversity of cultures, religions and lifestyles around the world.”
top
|
