Homecoming or tourism? Diaspora tourism experience of second-generation immigrants

Abstract

Diaspora tourism is often considered a form of "homecoming," but for the children of immigrants who are born in the new country, the question remains as to whether they perceive their parents' homeland as "home" or destination. Moreover, advancements in transportation and communication technologies allow contemporary immigrants to maintain transnational ties to their homeland, which in turn may affect the nature of diaspora tourism.The purpose of this study is to understand the lived experience of second-generation immigrants when they travel to their ancestral homeland, and explore the extent to which second-generation transnationalism shapes their diaspora tourism experiences. Using a phenomenological approach, twenty-six second-generation Chinese-Americans who had the experience of traveling in China were interviewed. Four themes were identified from semistructured interviews: Language and Appearance, Search for Authenticity, Family History, and Sense of "Home." Proficiency in their parental language was found to be a main cause of negative experiences, yet occasionally a source of pride and attachment. Their search for authentic experiences was not unlike other tourists, while familial obligations sometimes limited their experience. Traveling back to the homeland not only allowed them to understand their parents and family history, but also reflect upon their life through experiencing contemporary China. Lastly, as the transnational attachment of second-generation immigrants was not rooted in a specific locale, they could feel connected to the homeland without actually visiting their family's place of origin. Findings contribute to transnationalism and diaspora tourism literature by comparing first and second-generation immigrants and identifying the difference between contemporary transmigrants and classic diaspora groups with regard to their diaspora tourism experience.

Social Economic Perspectives of Homecoming Tradition: An Indonesian Context

“…So it seems that the homecoming phenomenon implies a cultural heteronomy where there is an attraction between new situations and values with the old ones (Irianto, 2012). On the one hand, travelers cannot deny that they live, work, and live in the city, while, on the other hand travelers are very much bound by their origins, as stated by Huang, Ramshaw & Norman (2016). From this, it appears that Indonesian society is very close to its past.…”

Y Wladfa Gymreig: outbound diasporic tourism and contribution to identity

“…It is often suggested that 'classic' tourists consume a place through representations, are unable to appreciate the density of the destination and often do not fully grasp the local culture (Rojek & Urry, 1997). In contrast, although diasporic tourists visit for a short time and have little experience of being in the space, they have a sense of cultural awareness and the feeling of being home (Huang, Ramshaw & Norman, 2016). Diasporic tourists are therefore often categorised outside the idea of the 'classic' tourist.…”

“…Both travel patterns are marked by the key attributes of experiencing belonging and cultural identity (Timothy & Teye, 2004). Diasporic tourism takes place all over the world with most research currently focusing on the 'homecoming' travellers, the dispersed that travel back to their homeland (for example Baldassar, 2001, Basu, 2007, Iorio & Corsale, 2012, Huang, Ramshaw & Norman, 2016, who we may define as inbound diasporic tourists. However, the concept of 'homelanders' travelling to diasporic settlements is largely undiscovered.…”

Migrants on Home Visits: Memory, Identity and a Shifting Sense of Self

“…Feng & Page, ; Lew & Wong, , ). The most recent study, for instance, found that second‐generation Chinese–Americans visiting their parents' homeland gained a better understanding of their parents/family history and allowed them to reflect upon their own lives (Huang, Ramshaw, & Norman, ).…”