EXPLORING MOTIVATIONS AND SOCIO-CULTURAL IMPACTS OF ERASMUS+ STUDENTS IN RIJEKA, CROATIA

Purpose – The Croatian city of Rijeka has been a popular enclave for students participating in the Erasmus+ study exchange program, which has led to a shift in the relations between the local community (as hosts) and the student visitors (as guests). By applying the concept of the hostguest-relationship in this context, this study explores the student perceptions of Rijeka as a studyabroad destination, the degree of cultural exchange between locals and student visitors, and the overall footprint of Erasmus+ students on local communities in Rijeka. Methodology – An online questionnaire was distributed to Rijeka’s residents (n=93) and Erasmus students (n=114). Two surveys were designed to explore their attitudes and the factors influencing the host-guest relationship from both perspectives. Findings – The findings were analysed from both the perspectives of the students and the residents. The motivating factors influencing students participating in the Erasmus+ program included the landscape, rich natural attractions, affordability, proximity to other travel destinations, culture, and safety. From the local host perspective, the findings indicate that locals have a very positive perception of international students in Rijeka, with attributes assigned to them such as “wellbehaved” and “friendly”. Hence, contrary to some studies that showed that students might elicit residents’ negative perceptions, Rijeka’s residents were happy to accept them as a part of the community. Contribution – This study applies past research in host/guest relationships to a student exchange scenario. The practical implications for local stakeholders in Rijeka are to extend their offerings of cultural experiences to international students. In addition, identifying the quality of interaction between locals and visitors has implications for hospitality and tourism businesses.