Bali as an Educational Tourism Destination

Bali which is located in Indonesia is the tourist destination that exist and well known in the world. Bali was named the best island in Asia Pacific and the best spa destination in the world 2009 (DestinAsian and SENSES Magazine, 2009). The number of international tourists arrived in Bali 2008 were 1,968,892 people (Bali Government Tourism Office, 2009). Bali is good destination for learning, leisure and traveling. The attractive of Bali as educational tourism for international students because of three main factors: Bali as international tourist destination, high supported infrastructure, and value for money compare to other countries. Bali educational tourism is an alternative strategy to the mass tourism developed in Bali. There is also a need of high standard quality of human resource especially in Asia Pacific as this region is growth in industrialization and tourism development. To fulfill this requirement the high and international quality of education and international experience needed. The programs enhance the international understanding between young age’s generations that will create the positive image in the future. International education tourism program also help the students to understand the home country and its position in the global context.

Internationally, educational tourism has been recognized as an important market segment in the tourism industry. Although definitions of educational tourism abounds, the best way to conceptualize the market segment is to look at the broad range of activities. These include the classic education-like school trip and study tours (referred to as a model for benign tourism by some scholars, vacation and exchange programs, under and postgraduate study programs, short courses, and language courses. Expatriates working at overseas universities are also known to arrange compulsory fieldtrips for students during their holidays. Educational tourism programs include international trips and student exchange. The product can be classified into 2 categories: first, the lesson taught in the class with the curriculum based which is part of the formal learning process in the classroom; second, the field trip to special site/place as part the traveling. The later program designed into the learning activities that are not related to the curriculum or discipline.