TRAVEL AS A SCHOOL OF KNOWLEDGE: EDUCATIONAL TOURISM AND LOCAL DEVELOPMENT

Annotatsiya

Educational tourism is becoming an increasingly important form of tourism that combines travel, learning, cultural experience, professional development and social interaction. Unlike conventional tourism, educational tourism places knowledge acquisition and personal development at the centre of the travel experience. This study examines the role of educational tourism in local development, focusing on its economic, social, cultural, educational and institutional dimensions. The research is based on a review and comparative analysis of recent academic studies concerning educational tourism, community development, international student mobility, rural tourism and sustainable destination development. The analysis demonstrates that educational tourism can stimulate local employment, increase demand for accommodation, catering, transport and cultural services, strengthen local entrepreneurship, encourage the preservation of cultural heritage and create opportunities for interaction between visitors and host communities. The findings also indicate that universities, schools, museums, historical sites, local governments and tourism businesses can form an integrated educational tourism ecosystem. Particular attention is given to the potential of Uzbekistan, where historical cities, cultural heritage sites, universities and traditional crafts provide a strong foundation for developing educational travel products. The study concludes that educational tourism should be considered not only as a tourism product but also as an instrument of human capital development and territorial economic diversification. Sustainable development requires cooperation between educational institutions, tourism organizations, local communities and government authorities.