As already explained the Youth Hostel Movement is the brainchild of an eminent German school teacher, Richard Schirrmann, who set up the first Youth Hostel was opened in 1912 in Altenia, Germany. As a consequence, the Youth Hostels Association was formed in Germany in 1919. The inauguration of the International Youth Hostel Federation (IYHF) was an outcome of the first International Youth Hostel Federation Conference held in Amsterdam in 1932. With this, the YH Movement caught up and more Youth Hostels were established in Europe with hygienic and sanitary conditions.

IYHF is presently represented by 62 National Member Associations and 18 Associate Organisations and 18 Accredited Agents with a chain of more than 4,500 Youth Hostels and 4.5 million youth members worldwide. The hostels provide 35 million bed nights and an estimated contribution of $ 1.6 million (US) to the World Tourist revenue every year. With the computerised services available in a number of Youth Hostels for accommodation booking, more than 4 million people see the world through Youth Hostelling International. This system is popularly known as International Booking Network (IBN).