Investigating the Significance of VFR Visits to International Students

Abstract

Higher education, particularly in the area of international education has exhibited significant growth since the mid-1980s. Whilst it is beginning to attract research from both educational and tourism industry perspectives, the current body of knowledge regarding this market is still quite limited. This is particularly the case in the area of associated visiting friends and relatives' travel patterns and expenditure. The findings of a research project on international students at a leading university in Western Australia are presented in this paper. The importance of tourism arising from visits by family and friends of international (higher education) students within WA is estimated at between A$10.3 million and A$17.4 million per annum. This represents between 1.0% and 1.7% of international tourist expenditure in WA in 1999. The significance of international student family and friends' travel behaviour within WA is presented, followed by a discussion regarding marketing implications, based on conclusions arising from this research. © 2004 Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.