The travel behaviours of international students: Nationality-based constraints and opportunities

Abstract

International students represent a large and potentially lucrative market for various sectors of the tourism industry. Although previous empirical studies have examined this topic, most treated the market as homogeneous and small sample sizes have been the norm. The present Australia-based study represents the first large-scale investigation of the travel activities of international students. The large sample size (N 젴633) has allowed the researchers to identify nationality-based differences between international student travel behaviours and the factors that constrain their travel. The approach that has been adopted extends theoretical and applied understanding of this important tourism market and informs how tourism industry leaders may capitalise on the opportunities by undertaking initiatives, such as innovative tourism marketing, product development and packaging initiatives.