Educational Tourism Market Size, Share, Analysis, Trends, Growth, Forecasts, 2032

Educational Tourism Industry Prospective:

The global educational tourism market size was worth around USD 366 billion in 2023 and is predicted to grow to around USD 1144 billion by 2032 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of roughly 13.5% between 2024 and 2032.

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Educational Tourism Market: Overview

A form of travel known as "edu-tourism," or educational tourism, is centered on acquiring new experiences, knowledge, and abilities that support intellectual or academic development. It offers people a planned learning experience in a new place by fusing travel and educational activities.

Study abroad initiatives, language immersion, cultural exchanges, historic site tours, and ecotourism pursuits, including conservation initiatives, could all fall under this category. Through first-hand experience, educational tourism seeks to increase participants' comprehension of a certain topic or culture. Students, teachers, and lifelong learners who wish to expand their horizons and practical knowledge through immersive, on-site experiences have come to adore it.

Key Insights

• As per the analysis shared by our research analyst, the global educational tourism market is estimated to grow annually at a CAGR of around 13.5% over the forecast period (2024-2032).
• In terms of revenue, the global educational tourism market size was valued at around USD 366 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 1144 billion by 2032.
• The increasing demand for practical knowledge is expected to drive the educational tourism industry over the forecast period.
• Based on age group, the 16-25 years segment is expected to capture the largest market share over the projected period.
• Based on the education type, the college segment is expected to dominate the market.
• Based on region, the Asia Pacific is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period.

Educational Tourism Market: Growth Drivers

Increasing demand for experimental learning drives market growth

The increasing need for experiential learning—which has become a top priority for students, teachers, and lifelong learners looking for more meaningful, hands-on educational experiences—has significantly broadened the educational tourism market.

Active participation in experiential learning has been demonstrated to improve engagement and knowledge retention. By allowing students to study subjects in authentic settings, such as historical monuments, natural ecosystems, or language immersion, educational tourism enhances the impact and memorability of learning.

Furthermore, a growing number of educational tourism companies are providing customized programs that let visitors concentrate on certain interests, like language, science, history, or the arts. This customization fulfills the growing need for pertinent, industry-specific knowledge, particularly among professionals and students looking for specialized learning opportunities.

Educational Tourism Market: Restraints

The high cost of educational travel hinders market growth

One of the main factors limiting the expansion of the educational tourism industry is the high expense of educational travel. To pay for qualified teachers, course materials, and personalized experiences, educational tourism programs frequently impose exorbitant fees. Programs that offer specialized content, such as environmental field studies or language immersion courses, expert-led workshops, or exclusive access to specific locations are typically more expensive.

Moreover, accommodations—whether in hotels, dorms, or host families—are necessary for prolonged visits for educational programs. In comparison to short-term travel, long-term programs and study abroad experiences can be expensive because they generally require participants to budget for daily expenses such as food and local transportation.

Educational Tourism Market: Opportunities

Growing collaborations offer a lucrative opportunity for market growth

The increasing collaboration is expected to propel the Educational Tourism market over the forecast period. For instance, in November 2023, the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and Cambridge teamed up to develop an educational toolkit aimed at advancing tourism as a subject in classrooms.

The curriculum, instructional materials, textbooks, and techniques from top organizations in the field will all be included in the toolkit. Enhancing tourism education, fostering skill development, and advancing the tourism industry are the goals of this partnership. The fact that UNWTO member nations can receive savings on Cambridge travel and tourist resources is a significant component of the collaboration.

Educational Tourism Market: Challenges

Competition from digital and virtual learning poses a major challenge to market expansion

Digital and virtual learning are fierce competitors in the educational tourism sector since they offer accessible and affordable substitutes for in-person educational travel. For those who may otherwise participate in educational tourism, digital learning platforms are appealing alternatives since they provide the ease of studying from any location and enable people to get comparable knowledge and experiences at a significantly lower cost. Therefore, the increasing competition from digital and virtual learning poses a major challenge for the educational tourism market.

Educational Tourism Market: Segmentation

The global educational tourism industry is segmented based on age group, education type, occupation, and region.

Based on the age group, the global educational tourism market is segmented into less than 15 years, 16-25 years, 26-40 years, and 41-55 years. The 16-25 years segment is expected to capture the largest market share over the projected period. In terms of education, these are usually the college and post-graduation years. People in this age range want to broaden their experience, study a new culture, acquire new skills, and improve their probability of landing an overseas job.

In 2019, the University of Toronto in Canada had 2,082 students, while Columbia University in the United States had 1,134 Indian students, and the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom had 1,901 Indian students. Due to the growing career aspirations driven by exposure to the world and the desire for rich networking that transcends national boundaries, this age group will continue to dominate the market.

Based on the education type, the global educational tourism industry is bifurcated into primary, secondary, college, and post-graduation. The college segment is expected to dominate in the market. This market is driven primarily by flexible immigration laws, high transparency regarding specialist degrees, and reasonably priced college possibilities.

Because there aren't many options in their local location, many customers would rather move to college. The likelihood of landing a good job or even a good college after graduation is increased by a college degree from a prominent institution. Some nations that continue to be popular destinations for college migration are the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom because of their flexible immigration policies and high quality of education.

Based on the occupation, the global educational tourism market is bifurcated into students, teachers, government officials, corporation managers, enterprise owners, workers, and others.

Educational Tourism Market: Report Scope

Educational Tourism Market: Regional Analysis

Asia Pacific dominates the market over the projected period

The Asia Pacific is expected to lead the global educational tourism market growth. China and India continue to be the two nations with the highest rates of international education travel. According to an Ivy Panda article, Asians make up 77% of all overseas students studying in the United States.

Major motivations that drive students from these locations to engage in educational tourism include parental influence, university rankings, the prospect of a better job, and the involvement of agents and alumni.

Besides, the MEA region is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the analysis period owing to government initiatives. Through infrastructural expenditures, visa facilitation, and the promotion of foreign student exchange programs, MEA governments are showing a growing amount of support for educational tourism. Countries that have implemented measures to promote tourism and education, such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, have been able to draw in students and educational tourists.

Educational Tourism Market: Competitive Analysis

The global educational tourism market is dominated by players like:

• WorldStrides
• EF Education First Ltd.
• ACIS Educational Tours
• Explorica Inc.
• The Experiment in International Living
• Walking Tree Travel
• Rustic Pathways
• AFS Intercultural Programs
• STA Travel Ltd.
• The Road Less Traveled
• The Experiment Digital
• CET Academic Programs
• GoAbroad.com
• Travel For Teens
• School Tours of America
• CIEE: Council on International Educational Exchange
• New York Language Center
• GEEO - Global Exploration for Educators Organization
• GLA: Global Leadership Adventures and Projects Abroad

The global educational tourism market is segmented as follows:

By Age Group

• Less Than 15 Years
• 16-25 Years
• 26-40 Years
• 41-55 Years

By Education Type

• Primary
• Secondary
• College
• Post-graduation

By Occupation

• Students
• Teachers
• Government Officials
• Corporation Managers
• Enterprise Owners
• Workers
• Others

By Region

• North America
  • The U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe
  • France 
  • The UK
  • Spain
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
  • South Korea
  • Southeast Asia
  • Rest of Asia Pacific
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Rest of Latin America
• Middle East & Africa
  • GCC
  • South Africa
  • Rest of Middle East & Africa