Motivations of educational tourists in non-English-speaking countries: the role of languages |
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Authors: | María Isabel Castillo Arredondo María Isabel Rodríguez Zapatero Tomás López-Guzmán |
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Institution: | 1. Faculty of Law, Business and Economic Sciences, University of Cordoba, Puerta Nueva S/N, 14071, Córdoba, Spain;2. Faculty of Tourism, University of Cordoba, C/ Adarve 30, 14071, Córdoba, Spain |
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Abstract: | ABSTRACTLearning a language or improving one’s foreign language skills may be a key motivator for students to decide to participate in an exchange program as well as choose the destination for their studies. Nevertheless, studies on educational tourism are limited, and there is no research on the motivations of students visiting non-English-speaking countries. To fill this gap, this paper aims to examine the motivations of university students in non-English-speaking destinations by using the push-and-pull framework. Primary data were collected through an online survey from 190 and 205 students who participated in mobility programs in a Spanish university and in a German university respectively. Empirical findings reveal that languages are a key motivating factor for either growing personally through cultural enrichment, or growing professionally. Furthermore, these data allow generic recommendations so that the destinations can attract a larger number of international students. |
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Keywords: | Edu-tourism language tourism international mobility program university students motives |
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