Qualitative investigation of the impact of internationalization of education on host community's eating habit

• Published date: 01 May 2020
• Date: 01 May 2020
• Author: Elif Guzel,Servet Nasifoglu Elidemir,Kayode Kolawole Eluwole,Taiwo Temitope Lasisi
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/pa.2036

ACADEMIC PAPER

Qualitative investigation of the impact of internationalization

of education on host community's eating habit

Kayode Kolawole Eluwole

1

| Taiwo Temitope Lasisi

1

| Servet Nasifoglu Elidemir

1

|

Elif Guzel

2

1

Faculty of Tourism, Eastern Mediterranean

University, Famagusta, Turkey

2

Faculty of Business and Economics, Eastern

Mediterranean University, Famagusta, Turkey

Correspondence

Kayode Kolawole Eluwole, Faculty of Tourism,

Eastern Mediterranean University, Famagusta,

North Cyprus, 99628, Turkey.

Email: kayode.eluwole@emu.edu.tr

Although education tourism has over the years enjoyed great attention by scholars

largely because of its impact in shaping both the economic and political landscape of

nations, an ample number of such studies have focused on the impact of the host

community on the adaptation and survival of the sojourning foreign students or edu-

cation tourists. There has been significant research into student's acculturation,

mobility, and the likes, but research on the reverse impact of sociocultural interaction

of these education tourists on their host communities is scarce. North Cyprus, a small

island state with economic dependence on education, is a thriving host community

for a substantial number of an education tourist. This study explores the influence of

internationalization of education on the food consumption habit of indigenes of their

host community. Data generated from a focus group of North Cyprus indigenes were

used to examine how the influx of educational tourists have altered and shaped their

eating behavior and culture. Current study contributes to both literature and tourism

sectors by showcasing the importance of cultural transfer of education tourism.

1|INTRODUCTION

Over the years, different tourism typologies have emerged serving dif-

ferent purposes. Edu-tourism or education tourism is one of such

typologies whose primary aim is to satiate the quest for learning and

education of student traveling beyond borders to achieve their

desired academic goals (Ritchie, Carr, & Cooper, 2003). In Campos

and Jiménez' (1986) view, education tourism is a type of tourism

where the participants travel to the location outside their domicile ori-

gin with the aim of participating in learning experience. In practice,

the several forms of education tourism includes: international and

domestic university studies (Corigliano, 2011; Glover, 2011; Shi,

Nakatani, Sajiki, Sawauchi, & Yamamoto, 2010), secondary school stu-

dents travel and exchange programs (Smith & Jenner, 1997), academic

conference (Leipe, Mc Cabe, Poole, & Weeks, 2000; Oppermann,

1996), and adult study tours or life-long learning (Kalinowski & Weiler,

1992). The information aforementioned shows the concept of

education tourism explore educational resources which translates to

learning experiences.

Education tourism, due to its contributions socioeconomically to

the host and sending countries, has become increasingly popular

(Glover, 2011; Oladipo, Mao, Ali, & Jones, 2018). According to

Shanka, Quintal, and Taylor (2006), the study of international univer-

sity is extensive in terms of its knowledge intensity, size, level of value

added, export earnings, and the long-term socio-economic benefits.

Also, Cheung, Yuen, Yuen, and Cheong Cheng (2011) opined that it is

no more an understatement to say that the international university, a

subset of education tourism, to many countries is now a multibillion

dollar organization (Cheung et al., 2011). As students migrate for the

purpose of learning, they move with their cultural orientation, beliefs,

values, and norms which also include the food they eat.

Food is a major part of cultural identity and heritage. Often, indi-

viduals and clans are recognized by the type and ways of their eating.

Thus, eating habits are inextricable from one's culture and set of

values and belief systems. Waade and Jørgensen (2010) stated that

along with media and tourism, food is an essential component of con-

temporary culture. The importance of food to sociocultural heritage is

so vast that some destinations are known for their food and drinks,

Received: 9 September 2019 Revised: 1 October 2019 Accepted: 7 October 2019

DOI: 10.1002/pa.2036

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https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.2036