Does International Travel Boost One's Interest in Foreign Policy? Attitude Change Among Tourists

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the process through which people develop their interest in global issues. More specifically, this study examines how people's traveling experiences affect their views on the importance of foreign policy. Consistent with the "intergroup contact theory," we hypothesize that exposure to foreign cultures boosts people's interest in foreign policy, because traveling involves direct interactions with people from different backgrounds. In order to examine our hypotheses, we conducted an online survey among more than 1,000 adults living in the US. The results of the OLS analyses show that traveling enhances people's recognition of foreign affairs as an important issue. Dissecting the impact of traveling on people's interest in foreign policy, this study makes an important contribution to the literature, with implications that are highly relevant in the era of globalization.