Travel group expands its horizons

Blackpool-based specialist educational travel company Next Generation Travel (NGT) will see it turnover rise to £27m following the acquisition of a school tour firm.

The deal for Cheshire-based Galina International Study Tours will also see its workforce grow to 100 and its annual passenger numbers rise to more than 80,000.

No figure has been put on the deal, which allows Galina to offer flights for the first time as part of its school trip packages.

Established in 2010, NGT includes the WST Travel, FHT Travel, Study Experiences, Sport Experiences, Anglia Tours and Remembrance Travel brands.

The business is the driving force behind seven of the UK’s fastest growing educational travel brands and offers immersive tours to young people from 10--21 years of age.

They are designed to offer “unique and empowering learning experiences” outside the classroom.

Established in 1989, Galina initially focused on battlefield tours before expanding its portfolio to include school tours.

Deborah Beckett, NGT managing director, said: “Galina has a fantastic reputation and matches our commitment to tailor school tours to the requirements of the curriculum.

“Providing high levels of customer service and bespoke tours has fuelled our growth and it’s exciting to join forces with a company that has such an affinity with our values.”

The WST Travel brand has been named the UK’s best school tour operator in The School Travel Awards for the last three years.