Traveling Patterns of Chinese Immigrants Living in Budapest

Abstract

The leisure behavior of Chinese immigrants, with a focus on their participation in tourism in the host country, has been evidenced in this research. The aim of this study is to identify the behavioral characteristics and traveling patterns of Chinese immigrants living in Budapest, Hungary. It also attempts to explore the role of kinship and friendships in tourism and their relationship with Chinese mobility in Hungary. Seventy semistructured in-depth interviews were performed through field visits in order to understand Chinese travel motivations and destination preferences in domestic tourism within Hungary. The sample for this study included Chinese immigrants settled in Budapest with an acceptable command of the Hungarian language and with a certain disposition to travel for holiday purposes. The research findings on traveling habits and leisure activities reveal that the Chinese interviewees are interested in visiting thermal spas and historical cities in Hungary and these recreational activities might enhance their cultural assimilation to the dominant group. Furthermore, this study presents a new approach to exploring Chinese tourists’ preferences in this geographical area, which has been neglected by researchers despite its important Chinese migrant settlements.