The International Youth Hostel Federation (IYHF) has the rich history, which reaches back in the year 1909 when hostelling aroused from organised excursions of German teacher Richard Schirrmann, and his pupils. Today, it is one of the biggest non governmental youth organisations in the world, the associate member of UNESCO and World Tourism Organisation with more than 3 million of individual members within ca. 70 countries, which annually realise more than 35 million overnights within more that 4'000 of the youth hostels. Its annual contribution to world tourism income amounts ca. US$ 1,4 billion.

"To promote the education of all young people of all nations, but especially young people of limited means, by encouraging in them a greater knowledge, love and care of the countryside and an appreciation of the cultural values of towns and cities in all parts of the world and as ancillary thereto, to provide hostels or other accommodation in which there shall be no distinction of race, nationality, colour, religion, sex, class or political opinions and thereby to develop a better understanding of their fellow men, both at home and abroad."