ABSTRACT. The world is flattening, and the younger generation must be culturally competent to navigate an interconnected society successfully. A high level of cultural intelligence (CQ), which is defined as the ability to adapt to culturally different settings, can not only be a predictor of increased cultural judgment but can also be an outcome of more cultural exposure and a culturally open attitude. Although research backs the benefits of study-abroad programmes for college students’ CQ, little to no research has assessed the case of high school students. This research surveyed 149 students in the United States, using Likert scale questions to assess their recreational international travelling experiences, their personality traits of openness to experience and their levels of CQ. With data analysis, the Spearman rank coefficients indicated that both travel experiences and students’ openness to experience have weak, positive correlations with CQ. Further hierarchical regression revealed that, despite the weak associations, openness to experience has a mediating effect on travel experience and CQ. The findings of this research highlight the necessity for high school students to be able to travel not just recreationally but to prepare for a global society.

Keywords: cultural intelligence (CQ); international travelling experience; openness to experience; cultural competence; high school students; study-abroad

How to cite: Gao, Z. (E.) (2023). The relationship between recreational international travel experience, openness to experience and cultural intelligence in high school students. Knowledge Cultures, 11(2), 40–62. https://doi.org/10.22381/kc11220233

Received 11 July 2023 • Received in revised form 28 July 2023
Accepted 28 July 2023 • Available online 1 August 2023