Educational tourism in Cyprus: exploring the cultural exchange expectations of Dutch high school students

Keywords

Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Issue Date

2024-06-20

Language

en

Document type

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Title

ISSN

Volume

Issue

Startpage

Endpage

DOI

Abstract

This study aims to answer the question: In what way do educational tourists expect to experience cultural exchange before participating in tourism programs in Cyprus? The research is conducted as a quantitative study and examines several concepts including travelers' motivation, cultural aspects, the role of cultural exchange, age and school level to investigate this main question. The research reveals significant differences in the motivations for participating in educational trips. Although personal development and cultural experiences are key drivers, educational outcomes are seen as additional benefits rather than the main goal. The findings indicate that cultural exchange, which involves direct interaction with the local population, is highly valued. Students show great interest in understanding the daily life, traditions and mentality of people in other countries. The research highlights the importance of tailoring educational trips to the varying expectations of different age groups. It underlines the important role of personal development and cultural immersion in educational tourism as well, and suggests that these elements should be prioritized over formal educational goals to improve the overall experience of educational tourists in Cyprus.

Description

Citation

Supervisor

Faculty

Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen