Sernatur adds Years 7 and 8 to its study trips: the private market prepares for a new school audience

Sernatur's decision to include Year 7 and 8 students in its study trip programme is not just an extension of state coverage. It is a signal to the whole school travel industry: there is a new, younger audience that until now practically did not exist as a commercial segment.

A different traveller from the final-year student

For decades, the study trip in Chile meant the last two years of secondary school. A trip to close a stage, with 17- and 18-year-olds, long itineraries and a strong symbolic weight of farewell. A Year 7 or 8 student is 12 or 13 and arrives with completely different needs.

At that age, for many it is the first trip without the family. That changes everything: the sensible length of the programme, the ratio of adults per group, the type of activities, the timetable, the meals and — above all — the emotional support.

"A Year 8 class is not a final-year class in miniature. It is a different traveller. It needs more adults per group, shorter days, more frequent communication with parents, and protocols designed for children who are probably sleeping away from home for the first time." — Marcelo Rollandi, founder of Vivencias Travel

What has to change in the operation

The adjustment is not cosmetic. Operators who want to serve this segment properly will have to review at least four points:

Coordinator ratio. What works with a group of 18-year-olds is not enough with 13-year-olds. Supervision has to be closer and constant.

Length and intensity. Shorter programmes, with real rest periods and activities matched to the physical and attention capacity of that age.

Communication with parents. Family anxiety is far higher when the child is 12. Information channels have to be systematic, not reactive.

Educational content. At this age, the learning component can matter as much as the fun. There is a real opportunity to tie the trip to the curriculum.

An opportunity for domestic tourism

Sernatur's programme runs on domestic destinations, and that is where the most interesting effect lies: thousands of students who will get to know regions of their own country before they think about an international destination. For domestic tourism, especially in the low season, that flow is significant.

"The challenge for the private market is not to arrive late. If the State is shaping a generation that starts travelling at 12, the industry needs products designed for that age, not improvised adaptations of a programme built for a different audience." — Marcelo Rollandi

Safety: the standard rises

With 12- and 13-year-olds, protocols stop being a differentiator and become a condition of entry. Medical assistance insurance, authorised transport, coordinators experienced with that age range, documented emergency protocols and constant communication with the school and the parents are the floor, not an added value.

Vivencias Travel is a tour operator founded in Bariloche with a presence in Chile, Brazil and Mexico, specialising in group and individual travel experiences. Its main focus is study trips, experiential travel, adventure activities, excursions and tailor-made programmes. It offers 24/7 support and professional guides with deep knowledge of Patagonia and international destinations.