Stakeholders in the UK’s educational travel and ELT sectors have predicted they will see a boost in the next year amid China restarting short-term tours to over 130 countries.

The UK ELT sector can expect a gradual recovery rather than a sudden return to mobility, delegates heard at StudyWorld 2021.

Brexit and the UK's political future was a constant backdrop to the event, but with the UK attracting students from far beyond the EU, the UK's ELT industry was more broadly considering its future.

Prominent speakers set an upbeat tone at this year's StudyWorld event in the UK, with Lord Bilimoria, Vivienne Stern and an international trade minister calling for engagement and underlining opportunity that exists for the UK.

StudyWorld is poised to undergo a radical transformation that repositions the event as an expo for the whole of the UK’s education exports.

More changes are looming for the UK’s Tier 4 visa system as the government finetunes its new Immigration Act. Speaking at StudyWorld this week, UKVI's Bharat Pamnani said the government is planning on consolidating visitor visa categories and is considering offering a cheaper Premium Service for smaller providers.