The increasing role of educational tourism in the training system of the world tourist industry: a socio-philosophical inquiry

The article presents the theoretical generalization of educational tourism as a social phenomenon of modern society. It is shown that educational tourism is now an integral part of the international systems of higher education for training in tourism. Educational tourism is seen as a particular social institution included in the life of the modern state and aimed at continuous modernization and stratification. The specificityof educational tourism, consisting of the synergistic unityof education and tourism, pedagogical principles, and forms of organization of tourist activity, is deduced. Methodologically, the work is done based on a comparative analysis of the training system for the tourism industry in the Russian Federation with relevant educational institutions of some European countries (in particular, Great Britain, France, Germany, Switzerland). The author reveals the specifics and characteristics of Russian and European educational systems, considering modern societies’ economic, technological, and cultural features for training professional staff for the tourism industry. It is emphasized that European educational institutions have significant historical experience in training specialists for the tourism industry. In this regard, proposals for the use of positive foreign experience in training specialists for the tourism industry in the educational activities of Russian universities are outlined. External and internal conditions and factors influencing the educational systems of tourism and hospitality training have been revealed. Particular attention is paid to the requirements imposed on such systems bythe professional community. The article reveals the goals, objectives, and forms of implementation of educational tourism in European and Russian systems of training for tourism and hospitality. The most crucial goal of educational tourism at the state level, according to the author, is the formation of a multilateral personality, capable of active and constructive activities in a multi-ethnic and multi-religious environment, with the ability to live in peace and harmony with people of different ethnic cultures and religions.