Mobilities in the Asia Pacific Region: Constellations and Diversity

Abstract

Adapting mobilities theory in the context of the Asia Pacific region, this study provides empirical evidence that demonstrates the travel–migration relationship is mediated by intercultural adaptation and moderated by the degree of travel freedom. Mobility, however is not equal among the various nationalities in the region. The likelihood of travel–migration conversion is stronger among advanced East Asian economies such as Japan and South Korea, where citizen are entitled to higher degree of freedom to travel. Citizens from Southeast Asia and China, however, are subject to certain level of travel restriction and overseas travel experience is less likely to predict their propensity for migration. Researchers triangulated and integrated findings across different methods to develop and validate measurement scales before testing hypotheses particularized for the context of the current study.

Asian tourism in Europe: consumption, distinction, mobility, and diversity

“…China has been regulating outbound group travel through its approved destination status (ADS) policy, which by 2005 included all European Union member states (Arlt, 2006). During this time, visa and immigration regimes resulted in differing levels of travel freedom among Asian citizens (Bui et al, 2018).…”

“…The present study is timely and significant, as it addresses a number of gaps in the literature. First, Asian tourism research of recent years is China-centered and neglects dynamics and development of other established and emerging countries (Bui, Wilkins, & Saito, 2018). Second, most studies highlight differences between Asian and Western tourists but generally do not analyse differences between Asian nationalities (Reisinger, Mavondo, & Crotts, 2009).…”

Asian solo male travelling mobilities – an autoethnography

“…There has been an emerging body of knowledge elucidating a more nuanced understanding of varying forms of tourism mobilities as enacted within the region. For instance, the global shift in labour mobilities for work and employment has triggered a stream of work around migration-induced tourism mobilities (Bui and Wilkins, 2016; Bui et al , 2018). Wang et al (2020) focussed on a longitudinal perspective of tourism mobilities in China, demonstrating the shift in consumer behaviour form being shepherded around in group tours, to growing in confidence and exploring the world as free independent travellers and other forms.…”