The Provincial Council and the University of Alicante aim to attract American students to Alicante

The Costa Blanca Tourism Board, alongside the University of Alicante, is participating in the NAFSA fair held this year in San Diego, California. The aim is to position the province as a hub for international education and language learning. Universities and Spanish schools on the Costa Blanca offer a wide range of programmes for international students, from short intensive courses to full academic programmes, including accommodation and cultural activities.

As detailed by the Director of the Provincial Tourism Board, José Mancebo, "our presence at this fair allows us to strengthen our dual strategy of consolidating alliances and diversifying key markets for our positioning as a leading educational and tourist destination."

The 2025 edition of the world's largest meeting on the internationalisation of higher education is a crucial event. However, this edition "marks a strategic turning point," highlighted the director of the Alicante Provincial Tourism Board.

"On one hand, we are reaping the benefits of a decade of work, with agreements materialising for the first time this year, such as the one reached with the University of California. On the other hand, the current diplomatic situation, with the US government's announcement to limit the number of international student visas, forces us to rethink our strategy and diversify our markets more than ever, directing efforts towards Japan and India," Mancebo explained.

This approach not only aims to strengthen the academic positioning of the province but is also part of a comprehensive tourism promotion strategy. The arrival of international students has a direct impact on the local economy, as their stays are extended, consumption is stimulated, and the Costa Blanca brand is spread through the experiences of thousands of young people who become ambassadors for the destination.

Education becomes an essential vector for long-term tourism, impacting sectors such as hospitality, catering, commerce, and cultural offerings.

"The international student is not only valuable from the perspective of educational mobility," explains José Francisco Mancebo, "but also for their role as a destination advocate. During their stay, they often receive visits from family and friends, generating additional tourist flows that continue even beyond the academic period. This multiplier effect turns the student into a true international promotion agent for the Costa Blanca."

During these three days of the fair, the Alicante delegation has held nearly fifty professional meetings and encounters with universities, institutions, and educational agencies of international relevance from various countries.

Among the most notable contacts are centres from the United States such as the University of Wyoming, University of Wisconsin-Stout, University of Vermont, and UCEAP; from the United Kingdom, with De Montfort University and institutional participation in the reception organised by BUTEX; from Asia, with Waseda University (Japan) and agencies Collegedunia and Envision (India); from Oceania, with the University of Sydney (Australia); from Lebanon, with the Lebanese American University; from Central and Eastern Europe, with Brno University of Technology (Czech Republic) and Georgian National University SEU (Georgia); and from Northern Europe, with Blueberry (Sweden) and College Contact (Germany). Meetings also included global platforms such as Keystone Group and the Kentucky Institute of International Studies (KIIS).