Inbound and outbound student mobility as a driver of student tourism in Central Asia: A comparative analysis (2018 and 2024)

Abstract This paper examines inbound and outbound student mobility as a driver of student tourism in Central Asia, focusing on Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan between 2018 and 2024. Using UNESCO and World Bank datasets combined with UN tourism receipts, the study applies comparative indicators including the Inbound Mobility Rate (IMR), Outbound Mobility Ratio (OMR), Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR), Student Tourism Intensity Index (STII), and tourism receipts per inbound student. The results present surprisingly different trajectories: Kyrgyzstan emerges as a regional hub with IMR rising from 11.9% to 36.7%, while Uzbekistan achieves rapid tertiary enrolment growth yet attracts fewer foreign students. Kazakhstan shows a moderate balance between inflow and outflow, while Tajikistan and Turkmenistan face persistent outflow pressure, highlighting the risk of brain drain and fiscal loss. The findings demonstrate that student mobility contributes measurably to tourism intensity and service-sector demand, though per-student revenues vary widely. Policy implications include enhancing English-medium programs, digitalizing visa processes, developing targeted scholarships, and linking education with tourism strategies. Overall, student mobility is confirmed as both a human capital vector and a tourism driver in Central Asia, underscoring the need for coordinated regional policies to maximize its socio-economic benefits.