Presented by Dr. Liesl Riddle
IITS-IGIS Colloquium | October 2, 2015
Research on diaspora tourism explores the role of tourism in fostering diasporic identity; case studies have improved understanding of how visitation can shape an individual's self-concept. Diaspora tourism also is recognized as part of a critical role as a "coping strategy" for migrants to ease acculturation stress in the country of residence.
Governments meanwhile find diaspora tourism an important revenue source although primarily with a focus on immediate visitation expenditures.
More attention is needed on diaspora participation in longer-term forms of engagement in their country of origin economies through philanthropy, volunteerism, remittances, and investment.
This paper draws on field research recently conducted among the Indian and Sierra Leonean diaspora communities, exploring possible ways diaspora tourism can be leveraged to encourage this engagement.
