Abstract
This paper discusses the main characteristics of critical factors commonly associated with how educational tourism foundations might empower individuals and economies in global communities in a digital age society. Educational tourism is a lifeline to empowering individuals, world economies and educational communities. What factors or conditions are associated with supporting empowerment through educational tourism? The central question is what is the empowering connection between educational tourism, flexible learning and digital equity? The purpose of this narrative is to describe critical factors commonly associated with how educational tourism empowers individuals and economies in world communities in a digital age society. This affirmation is expanded in this article to include a potentially disenfranchised segment of groups who may be unintentionally cut-off from the benefits of educational tourism in an increasingly digital society. Before digital equity can evolve, basic access to information technology must flow to or be diffused into educational tourism systems and communities within poorer societies, thus emerges the conceptual role of educational tourism. Educational tourism involves events that are aligned with the World Tourism Organization definition. Educational tourism enables flexible learning, which in turn empowers individuals by enacting the principles of digital equity. Transformational leadership and resource management are fundamental to expand flexible learning and equity through educational tourism in a digital society.
Highlights
Educational tourism is a powerful means to increase social and economic capital and empowerment for learners and host communities worldwide [1]
What factors or conditions are associated with supporting empowerment through educational tourism? what are the connections between educational tourism, flexible learning and digital equity?
While research has probed into some areas of the economic and developmental effects of educational tourism, and the influence of technology within this area has been studied, a comprehensive, systematic model of how these elements interact has remained elusive, even as the understanding such a model would provide has become more valuable
Summary
Educational tourism is a powerful means to increase social and economic capital and empowerment for learners and host communities worldwide [1]. Ritchie [4] diagrams the interactions between the environment and social resources, destination impacts, organizations and prospective educational tourists in a manner useful for those interested in further study Within this dynamic, flexible learning could provide a framework within which host communities and visitors can realize the greatest results from expanded educational tourism initiatives. With the advent of m-learning, hosts can leverage ubiquitous handheld technology to acquire, apply and supplement high value knowledge and skills, while visitors can employ it to complement their on-site learning One such example of augmented reality in learning is the recreation of the “virtual Berlin Wall”, currently in use to help visitors and learners envision the impact of the former barrier between East and West [5]
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