Transnational Migration Between Thailand and Europe: Migrants’ Experiences and Perceptions

Abstract

Migration between Thailand and Europe has steadily increased in the past few decades. Europe has long been a major destination for Thai migrants, particularly marriage and low-skilled migrants. Thailand also serves as a major transit point for many Asian migrants travelling to East Asia and Europe. The growth of Thai tourism industry has played an important role in the increasing mobility of European migrants to Thailand, and served as a catalyst for Thai marriage migration to the West. In recent years, however, temporary migrants from Thailand have grown rapidly as a result of seasonal migration to northern parts of Europe. Moreover, established Thai diasporas in Europe have formed extensive social networks that serve as a pull factor for low-skilled migration from Thailand. On the other hand, European migrants in Thailand have grown in number due to Thailand’s immigration policies which promote retirement migration and long-stayed tourism. Furthermore, high-skilled European migrants employed in multinational companies and foreign language schools have increased in tandem with increasing foreign investment in Thailand. The dynamic flows of migrants, their networks, and knowledge sharing have facilitated and sustained the two-way flows of temporary migration between Thailand and Europe. Both Thai and European migrants have adopted transnational social practices during the course of their overseas living such as bilingual speaking with children, consuming Thai and Western food, engaging in social activities with locals and foreigners, and maintaining social contacts across the globe.