Economic impact of language tourism on mature sun and sand destinations: The case of Alicante (Spain)

Abstract

The objective of this research is to measure the economic impact of language tourism in a medium-sized Spanish city, Alicante, which has been traditionally considered a sun and sand destination on the Mediterranean coast. This analysis aims to highlight the importance of developing a tourism diversification strategy and the desirability of promoting alternative forms of tourism. This investigation demonstrates the significant economic impact that language tourism has on a consolidated tourism destination as Alicante, which is higher, in relative terms, than the impact generated by conventional tourism. Based on the findings, the implications of the study are also discussed.

Turismo Idiomático: Conceptualización Y Valor Estratégico en Destinos Consolidados

“…El estudio del impacto económico de los estudiantes de español se concentra fundamentalmente en tres trabajos de investigación que se dirigen a distintos ámbitos y escalas de aplicación. Las contribuciones de Barra et al (2019), García y Grasset (2018) y Martínez-Roget et al (2013 coinciden en el análisis del impacto económico directo e indirecto derivado del gasto realizado por dichos alumnos, calculado a partir del coste de los cursos, alojamiento, actividades culturales y otros gastos en los que incurren durante su estancia en nuestro país. En este sentido, se entiende como impacto directo el efecto económico del gasto turístico sobre las empresas que atienden directamente a dicha demanda: restaurantes, hoteles, comercio, etc.…”

“…Por consiguiente, los datos de ambos estudios avalan el peso del aprendizaje del ELE en el impacto total de la economía, tanto a nivel nacional como regional. El tercero de los trabajos analizados, focalizado en la ciudad de Alicante, (Barra et al, 2019) permite comprender en mayor medida el alcance económico de esta tipología turística, no sólo por centrar el análisis en el turista idiomático concretamente, incluyendo tanto a los que asisten a cursos de español en la universidad como en centros privados, sino por estudiar en profundidad el impacto económico de esta modalidad en un destino turístico consolidado. Los efectos totales del turismo idiomático (4.850 alumnos) sobre la economía alicantina, en términos de output, renta y empleo se muestran en la Tabla 4.…”

Language Tourism in Higher Education: An Overview

“…The 2018 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange (Baer et al 2018) points out that in 2017 the US remained the top host globally and received 1,094,792 international students, who contributed $42.4 billion to the US economy through tuition, room and board, and other expenses. However, although the volume of international students grew globally, new student enrolments declined by 6.6% in 2017/2018, continuing a downward trend from the 2015/2016 academic year.…”

“…Intensive English courses accounted for 2.4% of the total fields of study for international students in the US. As for outgoing American students, majors related to foreign languages and international studies abroad rose by 1.1%, and whereas only 0.7% of American undergraduate students took those majors at US universities, 7.3% of them studied them abroad (Baer et al 2018).…”

Assessing economic and fiscal impacts of sports complex in a small US county

“…Prior studies have examined EIs of various tourism contexts in decades, such as academic tourism (Barra et al, 2018; Lopez et al, 2016; Martínez-Roget et al, 2013), the arts in the community (Stoddard et al, 2006), cultural event (Bracalente et al, 2011; Campoy-Muñoz et al, 2017; Sánchez et al, 2017; Young et al, 2010), low-cost carriers (Pratt and Schuckert, 2019), mega sports event (Huang et al, 2014), national park (Saayman and Saayman, 2006), religious event (Mahadevan, 2017), special event (Beckman and Traynor, 2019), and yacht charter tourism (Alcover et al, 2011). Yet, research focusing on the EIs of a sports complex on a small county with respect to tourists spending is scant (Getz, 2008).…”