Edutourism in the Asia Pacific: Its Emerging Trends and Specific Features

In the globalized age, educational tourism or edutourism has expanded from the classical elitist tour learning to a more populist experience as cross-border learning learning has been made affordable and practical. The scope of edutourism has been extended from pursuing formal qualifications to include informal and short courses fit for a profit-led business. Supported by advancement in educational technology, edutourism is expected to increase international exchange access, integrate to secondary schools, standardize in certifications, and assure quality learning, among others. The Asia Pacific has emerged as a prominent destination for international students. In this chapter we examine its emerging trends and its specific features highlighted in countries or territories such as Japan, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. Beside their economic achievements which have rendered them attractive, we have paid special attention to their strengths and weaknesses. The various types of their individual short programs are also analyzed and addressed.