Modelling the demand for educational tourism: do dynamic effect, university quality and competitor countries play a role?

Abstract

PurposeThis study aims to develop an educational tourism demand model, particularly in respect to dynamic effects, university quality (QU) and competitor countries. Educational tourism has been identified as a new tourism sub-sector with high potential, and is thus expected to boost economic growth and sustainability.Design/methodology/approachThis study reviews the literature on the determinants of educational tourism demand. Even though the existing literature is intensively discussed, mostly focusing on the educational tourism demand from an individual consumer's perspective, this study makes an innovation in line with the aggregate demand view. The study uses data that consist of the enrolment of international students from 47 home countries who studied in Malaysia from 2008 to 2017. The study utilised the dynamic panel method of analysis.FindingsThis study affirms that income per capita, educational tourism price, price of competitor countries and quality of universities based on accredited programmes and world university ranking are the determinants of educational tourism demand in both the short and the long term. Also, a dynamic effect exists in educational tourism demand.Research limitations/implicationsThe results imply that government should take the quality of services for existing students, price decisions and QU into account to promote the country as a tertiary education hub and achieve sustainable development.Originality/valueResearch on the determinants of the demand for educational tourism is rare in terms of macro data, and this study includes the roles of QU, competitor countries and dynamic effects.

Educational tourism in the context of sustainable development

“…Изучение работ отечественных и зарубежных авторов показывает, что большинство исследований сосредоточено на образовательных аспектах пребывания иностранных студентов, и недостаточно внимания уделяется туристской компоненте. При этом, во время своего пребывания студенты, как правило, общаются и развивают эмоциональные связи с населением принимающей территории, путешествуют по местным туристским достопримечательностям, повторно посещают их после окончания учебы, рекомендуют другим студентам, либо оказывают косвенное влияние на развитие туризма, например, приглашая своих друзей и родственников (Hussein et al, 2022;Culubret et al, 2022;Tjitunga et al, 2023). Кроме того, иностранные студенты не только путешествуют, но и продвигают различные туристские объекты принимающей страны че- Поскольку рынок образовательных путешествий растет достаточно быстро, крайне важно понимать роль иностранных студентов в устойчивом туризме.…”

“…Исследователи отмечают, что ниша образовательного туризма имеет некоторые особенности и характеристики, оказывающие влияние на экономическую, социокультурную и экологическую устойчивость (Culubret et al, 2022;Kazakova et al, 2021;Tjitunga et al, 2023). Существуют ут-верждения о том, что расширение потенциала образовательного туризма любого направления повышает доходы от туризма, а также через распространение информации способствует сохранению биоразнообразия и защите культурного наследия, что обеспечивает устойчивость туризма.…”

Smarter Sustainable Tourism: Data-Driven Multi-Perspective Parameter Discovery for Autonomous Design and Operations

“…This can lead to providing new jobs and a comfortable and safe environment, which improves the national economics and industry. Hussein et al [199] stressed that the development of educational tourism while taking the university quality, pricing decisions, and student demand into account will make the country a center for higher education and foster economic growth and sustainability. Al-hammadi et al [200] investigated the relationship between Halal Tourism and economic development, which has become an internationally attractive sector as a result of increased demand not only from Muslim visitors but also from non-Muslims.…”

Smarter Sustainable Tourism: Data-Driven Multi-Perspective Parameter Discovery for Autonomous Design and Operations

“…This can lead to providing new jobs, comfortable and safe environment which improves the national economics and industry. Hussein et al [187] stressed that development of educational tourism while taking the university quality, pricing decisions, and student demand into account will make the country a center for higher education and foster economic growth and sustainability. Al-hammadi et al [188] investigated the relationship between Halal Tourism with economic development which becomes an internationally attractive sector as a result of increased demand not just from Muslim visitors but also from non-Muslims.…”