Autori u radu nastoje dati pregled programa Erasmus+ i mogućnosti razmjene u svrhu studiranja i obavljanja stručne prakse u inozemstvu u području visokog obrazovanja. U radu se analizira utjecaj programa Erasmus+ na turizam mladih, odnosno njegov utjecaj na studente i njihov doprinos turističkoj i ostalim djelatnostima zemlje u kojoj su odlučili boraviti. U radu je prikazan nastanak i razvoj programa Erasmus+ te je također izložena usporedba sudionika programa Erasmus za razdoblje od 1987. do 2019. godine. Konačno, poseban dio rada posvećen je i novonastaloj situaciji uzrokovanoj pandemijom COVID-19 i njezinom utjecaju na inozemnu razmjenu studenata i mobilnost mladih. In this paper, the authors attempt to provide an overview of the Erasmus+ programme and exchange opportunities aimed at studying or completing traineeships abroad in the area of higher education. The paper analyses the impact of the Erasmus+ programme on youth tourism, in other words, its impact on students and their contribution to tourism and other economic activities of the host country. We provide insight into the introduction and development of the Erasmus+ programme, as well as present a comparison of participants in the Erasmus programme in the period from 1987 to 2019. Finally, a special part of the paper is dedicated to the newly created situation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on international student exchange and youth mobility.