| Summary: | Given the increase of student mobility in Europe, many studies have focused on the motivation factors for choosing destinations or the outcome of mobility experiences. However, less attention has been given to academic tourism, a booming sector in the past few years, and its repercussions, especially from the point of view of Higher Education Institutions (HEI). Moreover, international students when choosing their host university abroad are beginning to resemble tourists' choices of vacation destinations. Thus, the quality of universities plays an important role in the decision- making process, but students may be evaluating it through the image of their host countries. This study examines the internationalization strategies to promote academic tourism by HEI in Porto. The research method of this study is qualitative, and the semi-structured interviews were analysed using the Grounded Theory (GT) technique. Details are provided about the strategic development of the HEI as well as the academic, touristic, and cultural activities organised by them. The findings suggest that tourism activities are carried out essentially at the beginning of the mobilities, but external participation is more encouraged by the HEI. The increase of tourism in recent years and the revitalisation of the city of Porto excuse the lack of initiative of the Institutions which, nonetheless, acknowledge the extreme importance of tourism promotion to foreign students. Therefore, opportunities to develop partnerships with local touristic entities and associations are not yet well explored. This research contributes with useful information for tourism policy-making by local entities and to other HEI who might be developing a strategic plan to work with future mobility students.
|
|---|