Erasmus mobility as a culture-led experience : opportunities for sensitizing young travellers

Abstract

The Erasmus programme and the underlying experiences have a huge potential to generate long-term travels of young people, with significant impacts both on the travellers and hosting communities. The international experience gained through studying, volunteering, or working abroad is widely acknowledged as positive, giving students a huge boost to self-confidence and curriculum enrichment, broadening their horizons and social links. A major benefit of study abroad is the development of intercultural competence, to learn the culture of Self and Other and to communicate across differences. On the other hand, as long-term travellers, these young people can be agents of positive interaction with the hosting communities, and be the best advocates, as key informants to other travellers about local culture and traditions, particularly if they have lived and experienced those traditions. What determines the Erasmus students’ positive perceptions and willingness to spread the word and positively influence others? and How can hosting communities take advantage of the Erasmus mobility programmes to promote the territories as tourism destinations? The case study describes the Erasmus mobility programme at Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo (Portugal), with a particular focus on the perception and experiences of students taking part in the programme over the last 5 years. Results put in evidence that to seize the opportunities mobility represents, local authorities and destination management organizations need to understand that Erasmus students are potentially the best promoters and influencers of the country/region at an international level; whilst they are also bringing their knowledge, habits and own culture to Viana do Castelo, enriching mutual cultural understanding, exchanges and richness.