Effects of place attachment on home return travel: a spatial perspective

Li, Tingting Elle and McKercher, Bob (2016) Effects of place attachment on home return travel: a spatial perspective. Tourism Geographies, 18 (4) . pp. 359-376. ISSN 1461-6688 [Article] (doi:10.1080/14616688.2016.1196238)

Preview

PDF - Final accepted version (with author's formatting) Download (532kB) | Preview

Abstract

Recent studies on place-mobility relationships suggest an increasing possibility that people can have multiple place attachments at varied spatial scales. Yet our understanding of how place attachment in different spatial scales affects mobility remains limited. This study investigates home return visits by Chinese diaspora tourists from North America who have made multiple trips to China. A total of 27 in-depth interviews with repeat home return travellers was conducted. Four different types of return movements were identified: local; dispersed; local & dispersed; and second-migration locale focused. A relationship was found between the participants’ sense of place, place identity and home return travel. The findings suggest that home return travel is more complex than previously thought. More focused sense of place and strong personal connection to ancestral homes may lead to more localized return, while a more generic sense of place (i.e. to ‘China’) and collective personal identity would result in a more dispersed travel pattern. Family migration history and strong attachment to family’s first migration destination also leads to focused return to the place. The study highlights the fact that place and place attachment are deeply personal and can evolve over time and space.

Actions (login required)

View Item