The 'world's greatest living explorer'has been confirmed as the closing keynote speaker for this September's World Youth and Student Travel Conference (WYSTC).

Sir Ranulph Fiennes will highlight the growing wanderlust amongst youth travellers and how his experiences inspired him from a young age as he takes to the stage at the Convention Centre Dublin on the afternoon of Friday 26 September.

David Chapman, Director General of World Youth Student and Educational (WYSE) Travel Confederation, which organises the annual WYSTC event, said:  “It's an honour to have such an inspirational icon for adventure travel joining us for the youth travel industry's biggest gathering.

“Throughout his life Fiennes has encouraged young people to challenge themselves and explore the world, whilst his attitude to risk and adventure can be equally applied to business ventures.  We're therefore excited that his engaging tales and gift for storytelling will leave the audience inspired to reach new heights of their own.”

Having led over 30 expeditions and been the first person to reach both poles by foot, Fiennes may have earned his moniker from the Guinness Book of Records in 1984 but has not eased up on his record-breaking experiences since.  Despite inauspicious beginnings and false starts, his commitment, perseverance and teamwork skills have seen him remain at the forefront of exploration around the world since he first led the British Expedition on the White Nile in 1969.

The World Youth and Student Travel Conference (WYSTC) will take place at the Convention Centre Dublin, Ireland from 23 - 26 September 2014. For more information, including the full educational programme, and to register for this year's event, visit www.wystc.orgor stay in touch via twitter at @wystc using #WYSTC2014   

Full details of the speakers at this year's WYSTC event are available on www.wystc.org/programme/speakers.

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Notes to the editor

For media enquiries please contact:

Suzanne Seyghal / Esther Bell                                                                     

T. +44 7967 978 911 / +44 7718 529 980                                                    
E. suzanneseyghal@gmail.com / estherbell@publicist.com

Juliet Stevens

Marketing Manager

T. +31 20 421 2800

E. communications@wysetc.org

About WYSE Travel Confederation

• The World Youth Student and Educational (WYSE) Travel Confederation is a global not-for-profit membership organisation dedicated to promoting and developing opportunities for the youth, student and educational travel industry.
• Founded in 2006 and created from the merger of the Federation of International Youth Travel organisations (FIYTO) and the International Student Travel Confederation (ISTC) - both formed in the 1940s to inspire young people through international travel and to help remove cultural barriers - the confederation brings together 60 years of youth travel expertise.
• WYSE Travel Confederation is endorsed by the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and UNESCO.
• Providing international travel experiences to over 30 million youth and students each year, WYSE Travel Confederation's global community of over 800 members spans more than 120 countries from a diverse range of sectors.
• From adventure tour operators to au pair agencies, cultural exchange programmes to language schools, hop-on-hop-off buses to student insurance and youth hostels to volunteer programmes, WYSE Travel Confederation is the world's most powerful network of youth and student travel professionals, connecting key industry players with decision makers and government officials.
• The Confederation is committed to understanding the ever-changing characteristics, motivations and needs of young travellers. By gathering, analysing and sharing important market intelligence with members, academics and government decision-makers, the unique fast-changing needs of the youth market is at the forefront of its activities as it seeks to accelerate the development of youth travel.
• For more information, visit www.wysetc.org or follow the organisation on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

About the World Youth and Student Travel Conference (WYSTC)

• Now in its 23rd year, WYSTC is the annual event of WYSE Travel Confederation and WYSTC 2014 is the essential business-to-business global youth travel industry event.
• From 23 – 26 September 2014, more than 800 travel professionals from over 450 businesses globally will gather at the Convention Centre Dublin Dublin, Ireland for four days of trading, seminars and workshops, networking, industry think tanks and more.
• For more information, visit www.wystc.org
• Stay in touch via twitter on @wystc using #WYSTC2014.