Visiting Friends And Relatives Tourism Research Articles

Examining Sojourners as Visual Influencers in VFR (Visiting Friends and Relatives) Tourism: A Rhetorical Analysis of User-Generated Images

This study decodes the functions and meanings conveyed through sojourner user-generated images (UGI) and furthers the application of the theory of visual rhetoric to tourism by examining the online visual communications of sojourners—an understudied yet critical group of consumers and producers of tourism. A two-step qualitative mixed-method approach, involving expert interviews and visual rhetorical analysis of 453 sojourner UGI was adopted. Key findings resulted in the conceptualization of a theoretical framework that explains the construction of sojourner UGI. The framework identifies contemporary online visual culture, and the different frames sojourners move between (tourist, resident, home, and away) as factors that shape, and differentiate sojourner UGI from those of tourists. Collectively, the findings provide an initial understanding of sojourners as key visual influencers/online organic agents that offer destinations, specifically conurbations, the reach, relevance, and resonance in targeting the unique VFR segment, a key post-crises tourism segment.

To return or not to return? Identifying VFR travel constraints during the pandemic

ABSTRACT Despite the prominence of visiting friends and relatives (VFR) travel to show strong resilience in the face of global crises, it has been one of the most underexplored tourism contexts in the literature. This study examined travel constraints of VFR travelers during the pandemic to enrich this tourism context. Using an inductive theory approach, thematic analysis of 167 online posts and 8,403 online comments from prospective Taiwanese VFR travelers living elsewhere unveiled a framework of VFR travel constraints that included six types of travel constraints for VFR tourists who have made travel-related decisions amid COVID-19. Specifically, fourteen travel constraints were identified and situated within a three (individual - family - community) two (tourist generating country - tourist receiving country) framework to understand their causes and natures. Theoretically, this study served as a pioneering attempt to link the concept of travel constraints with VFR tourism and enriched our understanding of VFR travelers’ related decision making. Practically, destination management organizations and tourism businesses should find the study findings insightful because they demonstrate ways of promoting VFR travel to foster tourism rejuvenation in the post-pandemic. Limitations and future research directions were discussed at the end of this study.

The connection between VFR experience based and sociocultural dimensions of international students and mainland Chinese students

PurposeThis paper aims to present the host experience of student hosts in Hong Kong, a popular educational destination for international students from mainland China and other countries. This study examines the interconnection between the experience-based and sociocultural dimensions of visiting friends and relatives (VFR) travel, considering the overall host experience, the host–guest relationship and post-hosting changes in perception of both the VFR experience and destination.Design/methodology/approachThis research adopts a qualitative approach to compare the experience-based and sociocultural dimensions of VFR travel considering international university students as VFR hosts in Hong Kong, taking a student sample from both mainland Chinese and overseas students. Based on a voluntary sampling approach, the research team had face-to-face interviews with the students that agreed to participate. The interviews were conducted voluntarily and anonymously and included those students who had hosted any friends or relatives in the past 12 months. A total of 26 interviews were successfully completed, including 10 mainland Chinese and 16 non-mainland Chinese students.FindingsThe results confirm that the VFR host experience is generally shaped by an integration of internal characteristics (sociocultural characteristics of both hosts and visitors) and external environment (urban infrastructure and tourism resources). The two groups distinctively express their host experience that shows some areas of cultural barriers and geographical proximity.Research limitations/implicationsThe limitations of this research mainly lie on its relatively small sample size because of constraints in accessing the contact information of international students across universities. These shortcomings should be improved by adopting a research design that uses other sampling approaches, such as snowball sampling, to include a wider scope of students from different local universities, or convenience sampling, to interview and compare responses of international students from various educational destinations. Alternative data sources may be considered, for example, through user-generated contents from online and social media platforms that contain sharing of students as hosts.Practical implicationsThe geographical and cultural proximities influence VFR tourism development and social construction of values and the consequent hosting behaviour. The unique role of international students should be further explored, especially in the Asian context. The outcome of VFR travel must be evaluated and studied more from cultural and personal dimensions than economic gain, which should be relevant to host perspective such as improved quality of life, social ties and place attachment and psychological benefits. The changing risk perception caused by the COVID-19 pandemic may be examined through some forms of travel intention.Social implicationsFirstly, the destination marketing organisations of the educational destination should address the difficulty faced by student hosts in terms of external attributes such as local culture, urban infrastructure, tourism resources and information accessibility. Secondly, to target the hosts, some specific VFR-related products and services may be developed for international students through local tertiary institutions such that the role of hosts as ambassadors can be facilitated and enhanced. Thirdly, the functional role of international students can be distinctive based on their unique network, activities and knowledge constructed upon learning during the period of education.Originality/valueThe studentification of many educational destination cities, the dynamism of the role of international students as VFR hosts and their cultural differences between places of origin have provided an opportunity for deepening the understanding of VFR tourism.

Turismo, viajes y lazos sociales: el caso de los turistas VFA en la ciudad de Buenos Aires

This paper addresses the sector of VFR tourism: visiting friends and relatives (VFR). The hypoth‑ esis is that tourism based on social ties facilitates integration in terms of social interaction and social iden‑ tification in the destination, in this case the city of Buenos Aires. The concept itself of VFR tourism is dealt with together with a description and attempted characterisation of the exact movement of this type of tour‑ ism over the last few years as a result of migratory movements with emphasis on social ties and practices. The emphasis is on the degree of social integration and identification occurring in this type of tourism. The methodology used is qualitative, based on semi‑structured interviews of key agents and is complemented with statistics designed to give fuller access to the comprehension of the context.

Resident intention to invite friends, relatives, and acquaintances: The dynamic process of place identity as a motivator

Abstract The effects of destination resource evaluation and place identity, conceptualised as a dynamic process, on destination ambassadorship, expressed in intention to invite friends, relatives and acquaintances, from the resident perspective were examined in this study. The heterogeneity of residents, defined by length of residence, and its moderating effects on the aforementioned relationships were also investigated. Analyses of data from 545 respondents living in the post-industrial city of Newcastle, Australia revealed a partial mediation of place identity process on how resource evaluation affected resident intention to invite friends, relatives and acquaintances to their home city, which varied between residents with different lengths of residence in the city. These findings offer insights into the dynamic process of place identity and related effects on resident destination ambassadorship, as well as destination planning and management in the context of VFR (Visiting Friends and Relatives) tourism.

Entertaining Visiting Friends and Relatives (VRF) in Destination Settings: a Cross-cultural Host Comparison

This study aims to examine whether there is a difference between two different host groups in terms of hosting styles in visiting friends and relatives (VFR) tourism. The study provides some insights into this issue by comparing hosting type, hosting length, expenditure type, etc. between Turkish and British hosts. A self-administered questionnaire was conducted among 238 Turkish and 224 British hosts who live in Didim, located in the Aegean Region of Turkey. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The findings demonstrated that Turkish and British participants played an important role in hosting their friends and/or relatives. They also represented a large and underestimated part of VFR tourism with their expenditures and behaviors towards their guests. On the other hand, significant differences were found between Turkish and British hosts in which hosting their guests. Another finding of the study is that Turkish and British hosts and VFR travelers engage in activities in and around Didim. However, British hosts participated in activities more than Turkish hosts. In other words, this study found that British hosts contribute more to the local economy.

Interactive mobilities: Conceptualising VFR tourism of international students

Abstract The relationship between tourism and migration that has resulted from increasing global mobility is a complex phenomenon. As part of that phenomenon, research has shown a strong connection between international education, particularly at the tertiary level, and tourism. In particular, international students have been found to have a strong impact on the tourism industry of their study country. This paper investigates a specific form of tourism in which international students are involved: Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR) tourism. It details an initial conceptual understanding of the relationship between international students and VFR tourism. A conceptual framework is developed to help illustrate this relationship, highlight new avenues for research, and indicate how this relationship connects with the wider tourism-migration literature. The framework suggests that the interface between VFR tourism and international students can be explained through a number of aspects, two of which are addressed in the paper: VFR travel behaviour and host–guest dynamics in VFR tourism of international students. These aspects are analysed throughout the pre-, during, and post study periods. The paper sheds further light on emerging VFR related concepts - such as VFR tourism in a third place - as well as theories regarding the notion of hosts and guests in the modern mobile world. Suggestions for future research are also provided.

Ceremonious politeness in consuming food in VFR tourism: scale development

ABSTRACTUnderstanding the desire for visiting friends and relatives (VFR) has been examined in previous studies. Yet, research on the antecedences and consequences of social interaction between host and guest in VFR tourism has not received enough attention. Addressing this gap, this study introduces ceremonious politeness (CP) by tourists in consuming food as a cultural code that facilitates the establishment of a communally arranged form of social interaction. Using a mixed methods scale-development approach (e.g. Delphi technique, qualitative interviews, and surveys) during 14 months in 2015–2016, it develops and validates a CP scale to measure the impact of self-accountability and perceived others’ control on tourists’ sense of self-blame in social interaction situation related to consuming food in VFR tourism. The study contributes to the body of knowledge by introducing the concept of CP in a non-commercial setting.

Expatriates' learning: The role of VFR tourism

Abstract Few studies exist which have explored the impact of Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR) on their host. Of these that have explored the impact on the host, only limited generalizable findings have been offered. The field of VFR has already been found to be misunderstood and under-represented in many areas. The influence on expatriate-hosts' learning could be another one of these areas. The impact of VFR travel on expatriates has received almost no previous consideration, yet expatriates can and often do play host to visiting friends and relatives. A total of 3058 questionnaires were tested using Correlation and Multiple Regression from expatriates in Dubai, UAE. Results suggested that hosts learnt more from their visitor if their visitor was a relative, stayed with the host, was younger than the host, was more educated than the host, and, to a certain degree, if the visitor travelled to specifically to visit the host.

Revisiting VFR tourism in South Africa

The segment of visiting, friends and relatives (VFR) is one of the largest components of tourism economies. During the last two decades there emerged tourism scholarship around VFR travel, mostly in Australia, the USA and Europe. This paper examines the size, characteristics and spatial patterns of VFR tourism in South Africa. It is argued that studies of VFR travel in the global South must be linked to questions about migration. In the South African case the volume, nature and geography of VFR tourism cannot be understood without an analysis of historical migration trends. It is demonstrated that VFR travel is the largest element of domestic tourism and is dominated by black travellers. In terms of explanation, the continued role of circular mobilities in the post-apartheid period is highlighted. The geographical patterns of VFR tourism in South Africa reveal a complex of factors and most importantly the existence of split or translocal households for which VFR mobilities are critical. In South Africa, strong VFR travel occurs to large metropolitan areas and to the former homeland areas that are not considered as significant tourism destinations. Arguably, in many of these rural areas of South Africa VFR travel is the most significant driver of local tourism economies.

Seasonality of Overseas Tourism Demand in Scotland: A Regional Analysis

Coshall J., Charlesworth R. and Page S. J. Seasonality of overseas tourism demand in Scotland: a regional analysis, Regional Studies. This paper examines patterns of seasonality in international tourism to the regions of Scotland. Quarterly numbers of overnight stays are disaggregated by trip purpose. Seasonality in vacation tourism to Scotland is shown to be defined by more than a simple rural–urban division. Overseas visiting friends and relatives (VFR) tourism is largely an urban phenomenon and is consequently less seasonal than vacation tourism. Lower seasonal concentration of VFR tourism is not uniform across the regions. Although levels of seasonal intensity of business tourism to the three principal cities of Scotland are approximately the same, there are noticeable variations over time.

Visiting friends and relatives tourism and implications for community capital

Visiting friends and relatives (VFR) tourism accounts for a substantial amount of worldwide travel, yet has received comparatively little attention regarding its impacts on sustainability. This paper provides an initial discussion that situates VFR tourism within a discussion on sustainable tourism development. The community capitals framework is used as a basis for the discussion. A review of academic literature on VFR and sustainable tourism provides the foundations for this paper. Due to the personal relationships inherent in VFR there are significant consequences regarding the social impacts of VFR tourism. Additionally, the economic implications of VFR tourism include a more stable demand, greater dispersal of spending, and engagement of residents as consumers. The ability of communities to absorb VFR tourism relative to other forms of tourism has positive indications for the cultural and environmental aspects of community development. As debates within the more recent literature consider the opportunities and possibilities for mass tourism to become more sustainable, this paper suggests that VFR could reasonably be considered a sustainable form of tourism and offers destinations a viable strategy for sustainable tourism development.

The VFR experience: ‘home’ away from home?

The current study examines the meaning of ‘home’ and ‘away’ among visiting friends and relatives (VFR) tourists, utilising the multidimensional model suggested by Uriely [(2010). ‘Home’ and ‘away’ in VFR tourism. Annals of Tourism Research, 37(3), 857–860] to assess the VFR experience. Despite recent conceptualisations that emphasise the intersection of tourism and everyday life in various ways, as is prominently exemplified in VFR tourism, this empirical investigation provides evidence as to the limitations of this perspective. Specifically, the findings of this study indicate that when staying at friends and relatives, VFR tourists may feel at ‘home’ in terms of familiarity with place, but they also often experience feelings of ‘away’, in the sense of the loss of privacy and the limited situational control involved in this situation. As a result, the study points to the need to understand tourism, in general, and VFR, in particular, as complex phenomena in which elements of both ‘extraordinary’ and ‘everydayness’ coexist. The conclusion also discusses the marketing implications of the study and provides suggestions for future research.

‘Between Theatre and Sport’ in a Rural Event: Evolving Unity and Community Development from the Inside-Out

This study employed ethnographic fieldwork building on cultural theory and dramaturgy to examine and explore a major celebratory event that takes place in a rural community in southwest Texas as a consolidating device for building, reconnecting and strengthening the community's social fabric. The event blends sport with other performance elements. Results show that the community creates a symbolic social space characterized by identification with local history, heritage and values/beliefs and a sense of community reconnection, as well as acknowledgement and recognition. The organic interrelatedness of these mechanisms, enhanced by the sport and theatrical elements present in the event, facilitates the regeneration and reinforcement of a heightened sense of community and a strengthening of the community's social capital. Furthermore, VFR (visiting friends and relatives) tourism is fostered as former citizens of the community are targeted to attend this celebratory event, including the timing of other significant activities, such as when they visit the community for school reunions, which are typically scheduled to occur during the same time period. Implications for sustainability of events in community and tourism development, as well as the role of dramaturgy, are discussed. The dramaturgic nature of the event enables its significance for tourists, particularly former residents, which thereby contributes to the event's value to the community and its consequent sustainability.

Participants' characteristics and economic benefits of visiting friends and relatives (VFR) tourism — an international survey of the literature with implications for Ghana

AbstractThis article surveys the literature on visiting friends and relatives (VFR) tourism, identifying and describing its variant forms and the main characteristics of participants. This characterisation involves a discussion on socio‐demographic and economic traits as well as travel characteristics of VFR trip makers. The study further reviews VFR tourism's economic contributions to destination areas with specific focus on foreign exchange earnings, local revenue mobilisation, multiplier effects of tourism expenditures and employment generation. This background review provides the basis for assessing the possibilities for developing a viable and sustainable VFR tourism in Ghana by highlighting and evaluating critical factors such as seasonality of VFR tourists inflows, income leakages, host and guest relationships, and destination image. Appropriate recommendations based on the above insights have been provided to enhance Ghana's competitive edge in the promotion of this tourism category. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Understanding VFR tourism behaviour: the first five years of the United Kingdom tourism survey

This paper assesses the structure of VFR (visiting friends and relatives) tourism in the UK between 1989 and 1993 in relation to four main issues: VFR expenditure patterns, VFR destination choices, the timing and duration of VFR trips, and VFR demographic travel propensity by social class, age and life cycle. The results suggest the need for important modifications or extensions to previous assumptions about the VFR category in terms of its value, destination features, its temporal distribution and the profile of its main participants. A number of hypotheses are offered as the basis for replication studies and further research. The analysis is based on a disaggregation of VFR tourism from five annual United Kingdom Tourism Surveys (UKTS) carried out continuously between 1989 and 1993, which provide the first five-year run of data on domestic tourism in the UK based on an unchanging and consistent methodology. The data represents the largest, standardised longitudinal data set on VFR tourism yet presented in the literature. The UKTS results are compared with VFR results derived from published studies of VFR travel elsewhere.