Satisfaction And Effectiveness of Educational Tours for Hospitality and Tourism Students of ISPSC Candon Campus: Bases for the Development of a School-Based Framework for Educational Tour

Abstract

Introduction: Educational tours are a crucial component of the academic program because they give students the chance to learn outside of the classroom and get useful practical experience. Educational trips provide students with a chance to learn about a particular place or subject in a more interactive and immersive way. This study aimed to determine the level of satisfaction of students to education tours in terms of accommodation, transportation and tour coordinators/tour guides, assess the perceived level of effectiveness of joining educational tours to student learning, describe the experiences of the students in joining educational tours; and develop a school-based framework for educational tours engagement.
Objectives: This study aimed to determine the satisfaction of students as well as the level of effectiveness of educational tours as a part of learning for hospitality and tourism students. Specifically, this study aims to: 1) Determine the level of satisfaction of students to educational tours in terms of accommodation, transportation and tour coordinators/tour guides; 2) Assess the perceived level of effectiveness of joining educational tours to student learning; and 3) Develop a school-based framework for educational tours engagement.
Methods: This study utilized a convergent parallel research design. A total of 205 students of the Institute of Hospitality and Tourism (IHTM) participated in the study. A survey questionnaire and a group interview were used to gather data. Weighted mean was used in determining the level of satisfaction and level of effectiveness of educational tour while thematic analysis was used to describe the experiences of the students.
Results: Findings revealed that the level of satisfaction of student was rated Very Much Satisfied while the level of effectiveness of joining educational tours to student learning was rated Highly Effective. The respondents view educational tour as an exposure to the tourism and hospitality industry, an avenue for enhancement of skills and knowledge, an enhancement of classroom learning and a chance to explore different places. The respondents’ most memorable experiences are visiting tourist attractions, participating in lectures, trainings and seminars, hotel familiarization tours and benchmarking in universities and training centers offering hospitality and tourism courses
Conclusions: In the light of the findings of the study, the following conclusions were drawn:
1.)The level of satisfaction of student was rated Very Much Satisfied; 2.) The level of effectiveness of joining educational tours to student learning was rated Highly Effective; and 3.) The respondents’ view educational tour as an exposure to the tourism and hospitality industry, an avenue for enhancement of skills and knowledge, an enhancement of classroom learning and a chance to explore different places.