Parliamentary Reception

Join us at our annual Parliamentary Reception at the House of Lords.

This member-only event is one of BETA’s key advocacy moments of the year, bringing members together with MPs, Peers, Government departments and key stakeholders to champion the long-term value of the youth, student and educational travel sector.

Why this matters

Youth and educational travel plays a vital role in the UK’s economy, visitor economy, international relationships and soft power. Each year, millions of young people come to the UK for study, cultural exchange, language learning, school group travel and wider educational experiences.

These visits create long-lasting personal, professional and cultural connections with the UK, helping to build future advocates, partners and global citizens.

In 2024 alone, the sector welcomed 13.6 million young international visitors, contributing £37.7 billion to the UK economy and accounting for over one-third of all inbound tourism. Youth travellers typically stay longer and engage more deeply with the UK, taking part in educational, cultural and group travel experiences that support destinations, businesses and communities beyond the traditional visitor hotspots.

A platform for member representation

The reception provides an important opportunity to raise awareness of the issues and opportunities affecting our sector and to reinforce BETA’s key policy priorities.

It also builds on BETA’s ongoing advocacy work on behalf of members, including continued engagement with Government, Parliament and key stakeholders to ensure the sector’s voice is heard where decisions are being shaped. Key areas of focus include:

• the creation of a Youth Group Travel Scheme, allowing low-risk groups of under-18s to visit the UK for cultural and educational purposes using ID card

• expansion of the Youth Mobility Scheme, enabling more young people to live, work and travel

• clearer and more accessible visa pathways for inbound and outbound youth mobility

• greater recognition of the global marketing opportunity to position the UK as a leading destination for youth, student and educational travel

This is also an opportunity for members to engage with parliamentarians and help broaden understanding of the value our sector delivers across the UK.

We encourage members to invite their local MP to attend alongside them, helping build relationships and ensuring the sector's voice is heard more widely. Please use this tool to find your MP

Youth, student and educational travel is high-value, globally influential and critical to the UK’s long-term economic, cultural and diplomatic success. We hope you will join us to celebrate, champion and protect this vital sector.

Places are strictly limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note this is a paid member event.  Early registration is strongly encouraged.