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<p>This article explores the impact of international student mobility on tourist destinations, specifically examining Erasmus students at Universidad de La Laguna in Tenerife. Recognizing the growing competition among Higher Education Institutions and the increasing economic importance of international students, this study addresses three main aspects: the factors influencing international students’ destination choice, their economic contribution, and their subsequent loyalty to host destinations. Through a comparative analysis of survey responses from 432 Erasmus students across two cohorts (2008–2012 and 2013–2019), the research finds that while academic reputation remains influential, students increasingly value the cultural characteristics, leisure opportunities, and affordability of the destination. Economically, international students provide substantial contributions to local economies via accommodation, food, and leisure expenditures, demonstrating broader regional economic benefits through their travel activities. The study also identifies high loyalty levels, revealing strong intentions among students to revisit their host locations, particularly as tourists, highlighting long-term economic and promotional advantages. These findings underline the dual importance of international students as both educational participants and valuable economic agents. The study contributes to the academic tourism literature by integrating the educational and tourism perspectives, highlighting the strategic need for enhanced collaboration between HEIs and destination managers. It emphasizes the importance of international students as economic actors and potential ambassadors, thereby providing a novel theoretical contribution by suggesting that strategies targeting international student attraction and retention should explicitly consider both academic and tourism-related factors.</p>

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International Student Mobility and Its Impact on Destination Countries

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年6月3日

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  • Javier Mendoza-Jiménez,
  • Francisco J. García-Rodriguez,
  • Carlos Gustavo García-González

摘要

This article explores the impact of international student mobility on tourist destinations, specifically examining Erasmus students at Universidad de La Laguna in Tenerife. Recognizing the growing competition among Higher Education Institutions and the increasing economic importance of international students, this study addresses three main aspects: the factors influencing international students’ destination choice, their economic contribution, and their subsequent loyalty to host destinations. Through a comparative analysis of survey responses from 432 Erasmus students across two cohorts (2008–2012 and 2013–2019), the research finds that while academic reputation remains influential, students increasingly value the cultural characteristics, leisure opportunities, and affordability of the destination. Economically, international students provide substantial contributions to local economies via accommodation, food, and leisure expenditures, demonstrating broader regional economic benefits through their travel activities. The study also identifies high loyalty levels, revealing strong intentions among students to revisit their host locations, particularly as tourists, highlighting long-term economic and promotional advantages. These findings underline the dual importance of international students as both educational participants and valuable economic agents. The study contributes to the academic tourism literature by integrating the educational and tourism perspectives, highlighting the strategic need for enhanced collaboration between HEIs and destination managers. It emphasizes the importance of international students as economic actors and potential ambassadors, thereby providing a novel theoretical contribution by suggesting that strategies targeting international student attraction and retention should explicitly consider both academic and tourism-related factors.