Host-guest interactions: First-generation Filipino immigrants in New Zealand and their visiting friends and relatives (VFR) from the Philippines

<p>This thesis examines social interactions between Filipino immigrant-hosts residing in New Zealand and their visiting friends and relatives (VFRs) from the Philippines as guests. The growth of migration and immigrant communities globally has become a major source of tourists resulting from developing and extending relationships and kinship in the receiving country of the immigrant-hosts. Despite advances in VFR travel research, most studies focus on the VFR travellers and generally neglect the significance of the host as a factor in the overall travel experience. There is a need to examine host-guest relationships in the context of VFR travel research as travel and tourism have by and large neglected issues of sociality and how it is concerned with social relations. Similarly, there is an element of “othering” comprised in the host-guest relationship when the social interaction is a meeting of strangers. However, this study explores social interactions where the actors take on host and guest roles that are layered upon other elements of their pre-existing relationships. This research recognises that while the hosts and guests may share a similar cultural background, the social interactions under study take place in a different cultural setting. The overall question that guides this research is: “How are social interactions between immigrant-hosts and their VFRs understood and interpreted by them?” Currently, there is a lack of conceptual and theoretical understanding of VFR travel and the host-guest phenomenon, as well as of the meanings and interpretations resulting from their social interactions. The underpinning paradigm for this thesis is hermeneutic phenomenology, which seeks to understand the truths derived from the experiences. This paradigm guides the study to derive an understanding of the social interactions and the meanings that immigrant-hosts and their guests attach to situations. A holistic approach was utilised to examine the social interactions of the immigrant-host and VFR relationship incorporating social exchange theory and the theory of emotional solidarity which will enable consideration of the various dimensions of social interaction. Individual and family/group interviews were conducted after the visit in order to provide a comprehensive approach and capture the range of interactions that occur between hosts and guests. The immigrant-host families and VFRs were interviewed after the post-visit phase in New Zealand and the Philippines, respectively. This study therefore incorporates multiple perspectives in studying VFR travel across time and space. Through thematic analysis and qualitative metasynthesis, the meanings provided by the hosts and guests to situations which occurred during the visit are analysed in order to give a voice to these groups. The social interactions between immigrant-hosts and VFRs are dynamic, multidimensional and multi-faceted when examined from the multiple perspectives of the hosts and guests. The findings indicate that friendship and kinship appear to be special relationships to which people attach great importance, both personally and culturally, as friends and relatives provide a sense of identity and reaffirm social ties. This thesis contributes to current knowledge in interpreting the meanings of friendship and kinship in a cultural context and how it relates to VFR travel which may have an implication for both tourism and migration and on understanding the social interactions of immigrant-hosts living in their new homeland and their families and friends who visit them.</p>

Host-guest interactions: First-generation Filipino immigrants in New Zealand and their visiting friends and relatives (VFR) from the Philippines

<p>This thesis examines social interactions between Filipino immigrant-hosts residing in New Zealand and their visiting friends and relatives (VFRs) from the Philippines as guests. The growth of migration and immigrant communities globally has become a major source of tourists resulting from developing and extending relationships and kinship in the receiving country of the immigrant-hosts. Despite advances in VFR travel research, most studies focus on the VFR travellers and generally neglect the significance of the host as a factor in the overall travel experience. There is a need to examine host-guest relationships in the context of VFR travel research as travel and tourism have by and large neglected issues of sociality and how it is concerned with social relations. Similarly, there is an element of “othering” comprised in the host-guest relationship when the social interaction is a meeting of strangers. However, this study explores social interactions where the actors take on host and guest roles that are layered upon other elements of their pre-existing relationships. This research recognises that while the hosts and guests may share a similar cultural background, the social interactions under study take place in a different cultural setting. The overall question that guides this research is: “How are social interactions between immigrant-hosts and their VFRs understood and interpreted by them?” Currently, there is a lack of conceptual and theoretical understanding of VFR travel and the host-guest phenomenon, as well as of the meanings and interpretations resulting from their social interactions. The underpinning paradigm for this thesis is hermeneutic phenomenology, which seeks to understand the truths derived from the experiences. This paradigm guides the study to derive an understanding of the social interactions and the meanings that immigrant-hosts and their guests attach to situations. A holistic approach was utilised to examine the social interactions of the immigrant-host and VFR relationship incorporating social exchange theory and the theory of emotional solidarity which will enable consideration of the various dimensions of social interaction. Individual and family/group interviews were conducted after the visit in order to provide a comprehensive approach and capture the range of interactions that occur between hosts and guests. The immigrant-host families and VFRs were interviewed after the post-visit phase in New Zealand and the Philippines, respectively. This study therefore incorporates multiple perspectives in studying VFR travel across time and space. Through thematic analysis and qualitative metasynthesis, the meanings provided by the hosts and guests to situations which occurred during the visit are analysed in order to give a voice to these groups. The social interactions between immigrant-hosts and VFRs are dynamic, multidimensional and multi-faceted when examined from the multiple perspectives of the hosts and guests. The findings indicate that friendship and kinship appear to be special relationships to which people attach great importance, both personally and culturally, as friends and relatives provide a sense of identity and reaffirm social ties. This thesis contributes to current knowledge in interpreting the meanings of friendship and kinship in a cultural context and how it relates to VFR travel which may have an implication for both tourism and migration and on understanding the social interactions of immigrant-hosts living in their new homeland and their families and friends who visit them.</p>

738. Comparison of Characteristics of US International Travelers Seeking Pretravel Health Consultations at US Global TravEpiNet Sites Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background In January–March 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued multiple warnings regarding COVID-19 travel-associated risks. We sought to describe US travelers seeking pretravel consultation regarding international travel at US Global TravEpiNet (GTEN) sites before and after the initial COVID-19 travel warnings. Methods We prospectively collected data at 22 GTEN sites pre-COVID-19 (January–December 2019) and 18 GTEN sites during the COVID-19 pandemic (April 2020–March 2021). We excluded travelers evaluated during January–March 2020, when CDC travel guidance was evolving rapidly. Travelers used standardized questionnaires to self-report data regarding demographics and travel-related characteristics. Providers confirmed these data and documented their recommendations during pretravel consultation, which could be performed virtually. We conducted descriptive analyses of differences in demographics, travel-related characteristics, vaccinations, and medications (SAS v9.4; Cary, NC). Results Compared with 16,903 pre-COVID-19 consultations, only 1,564 consultations occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, a 90% reduction (Table). During COVID-19, a greater proportion of travelers were children aged 1–5 years, visiting friends and relatives (VFR), with itineraries ≥ 30 days, and going to Africa; a smaller proportion of travelers were aged &gt; 55 years, or traveling to Southeast Asia or the Western Pacific. During COVID-19, fewer vaccine-eligible travelers received vaccines at the pretravel consultation except for yellow fever, and a greater proportion were referred to another provider for vaccination (Figure). Table. Demographics and travel-related characteristics of international travelers seeking pretravel consultation at Global TravEpiNet sites before and during the COVID-19 pandemic Table continued. Demographics and travel-related characteristics of international travelers seeking pretravel consultation at Global TravEpiNet sites before and during the COVID-19 pandemic Figure. Vaccinations and reasons for nonvaccination among vaccine-eligible international travelers at pretravel consultations at Global TravEpiNet (GTEN) sites before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among vaccine-eligible travelers, we summarized those who were vaccinated at the visit (blue) and not vaccinated (orange). We then categorized reasons for nonvaccination into: provider decision (solid), referral to another provider (dots), traveler refusal (striped), or other (hatched). COVID-19 vaccination was not available at GTEN sites during the analysis period; although COVID-19 vaccinations outside of GTEN sites might have affected vaccination recommendations, they were unlikely to have had a large effect given their limited availability in January-March 2021. Conclusion Compared with pre-COVID-19, US travelers seeking pretravel consultations at GTEN sites during the pandemic might be at higher risk for travel-related infections given VFR status, traveling for ≥ 30 days, and going to Africa. Fewer vaccine-eligible travelers were vaccinated at pretravel consultations, which could reflect more virtual pretravel consultations. Counseling and vaccination for international travelers continue to be priorities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Risk of Trypanosoma cruzi infection among travellers visiting friends and relatives to continental Latin America

Background Chagas disease (CD) is regarded as a possible risk for travellers to endemic areas of continental Latin America (LA). The aim of the study is to determine the risk of Trypanosoma cruzi (TC) infection among travellers to CD endemic areas and to identify risk factors for acquiring TC infection. Methods/Principal finding We designed a multicenter cross-sectional study among travellers in Spain (Badalona, Barcelona and Madrid). All available adults with laboratory confirmed proof of absence of TC infection from January 2012 to December 2015 were contacted. Participants referring a trip to LA after the negative TC screening were offered to participate. We performed a standardized questionnaire of travel related factors and measurement of TC antibodies in serum. A total of 971 participants with baseline negative TC serology were selected from the microbiology records. After excluding participants not meeting inclusion criteria, eighty participants were selected. Sixty three (78.8%) were female, and the median age was 38 (IQR 34–47) years. The reason to travel was visiting friends and relatives in 98.8% of the participants. The median duration of travel was 40 (IQR 30–60) days, with 4911 participants-day of exposure. Seventy seven cases (96.25%) participants had two negative TC serology tests after the travel, two cases (2.5%) had discordant serology results (considered false positive results) and one case was infected before travelling to LA. According to our data, the upper limit of the 95% confidence interval of the incidence rate of TC acquisition in travellers is 0.8 per 1000 participant-days. Conclusions/Significance Among 79 non-CD travellers to TC endemic areas, we found no cases of newly acquired TC infection. The incidence rate of TC acquisition in travellers to endemic countries is less than or equal to 0.8 per 1000 traveller-days.

COVID-19 Lockdown and Visiting Friends and Relatives Travellers: Impact and opportunities

Tourism is regarded as a powerful force in the rise of pandemic diseases as the movement of people is seen as a pathway for the spread of such diseases. The sector is thus susceptible to measures to prevent the spread of pandemics. In the wake of COVID-19, unprecedented lockdown regulations relating to travel restrictions and social distancing have had a direct and indirect impact on the tourism industry and visiting friends and relatives (VFR) travel in particular. More than half of the domestic tourism market comprises tourists who visit friends and relatives in all corners of South Africa. With the restrictions on public gatherings and travel in the country, inter/intra provincial travel largely ceased on 26 March 2020. This paper draws on existing literature, as well as current media sources to review the literature on the legacy of VFR travel; assess the impact of COVID-19 on VFR travel; and finally, to examine the opportunity that might be created by COVID-19 for such travel. It argues that, in the wake of COVID-19, VRF has the potential to fuel the resurgence of the tourism industry in South Africa, especially domestic tourism. Thus, destination marketing organisations might consider a coordinated effort to market this form of travel.

Baby on board – ein Beratungsleitfaden für Reisen mit Kindern

Reisen mit Babys und Kindern bringt sowohl für Eltern als auch für die reisemedizinische Beratung besondere Herausforderungen. Insbesondere Kinder von VFR (visiting friends and relatives) sind oft aufgrund einer verminderten Risikoperzeption und erhöhter Expositon einem erhöhten Risiko für Infektionskrankheiten ausgesetzt. Eine gute Vorbereitung hilft dabei, beim Welterkunden gesund zu bleiben. In der pädiatrischen Reiseberatung sind neben Reiseimpfungen, Moskitoschutz und Malariaprophylaxe ein sorgfältiger Sonnenschutz, Rehydrierung bei Gastroenteritis, Schutz vor Tollwutexposition, eine auf das Alter angepasste Reiseapotheke und vieles mehr anzusprechen. Wir geben einen Beratungsleitfaden für die wichtigsten Aspekte der Reiseberatung für Familien mit Kindern ab.

Travelers’ Attitudes, Behaviors, and Practices on the Prevention of Infectious Diseases: A Study for Non-European Destinations

Background: The aim of this study was to improve our comprehension of the attitudes, behaviors, and practices related to the health risks of travel to non-European destinations. Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized an online questionnaire disseminated through social networks. Results: About 79% of the respondents reported that they informed themselves or would inform themselves about travel-related health risks before departure. The most used sources of information were the Internet (52%) and health professionals (42%). Older age groups were positively associated with seeking pretravel health information (OR = 2.44, CI 95%: 1.18–5.01, in the age group 25–34 years and OR = 14.6, CI 95%: 1.77–119.50, in subjects over 65 years). Travelers visiting friends and relatives (VFRs) were less likely to seek health information (OR = 0.49; CI 95%: 0.26–0.95). About 13.9% of participants had doubts about the practice of vaccination. Those who sought information on social media had a higher probability of refusing vaccination (OR = 3.24; CI 95%: 1.02–10.19). Conclusions: The data demonstrate that VFRs and the younger population are less informed about travel risks compared with other travelers. This study also revealed the importance that digital information assumes for travelers. Therefore, decisive efforts should be made to ensure that travelers can find correct and reliable information on the Web, particularly on social media.

More than words: decoding the influence of user-generated images on visiting friends and relatives (VFR) tourism

<p>Visual images are fundamental to the promotion of tourism destinations and convey critical aspects of destination image. As such, Destination Marketing Organisations (DMOs) have capitalised on the art of image making and disseminating place myths to capture the attention of consumers through mass media. However, the growing popularity of online networks has connected billions of active consumers, elevating word of mouth (WOM) into its electronic form, e-WOM, and causing a shift in the balance of power and knowledge — where DMOs are no longer solely responsible for the communication of a destination’s image. Despite the growing number of studies surrounding e-WOM and user-generated content (UGC), few scholars have endeavoured to examine the capacity of user-generated images (UGI) as persuasive visual displays of WOM, and the role of their creators (consumers) as influencers able to spread marketing rhetoric; in particular aspects of destination image, through the visual mode. </p> <p>Acknowledging the growing popularity of visual platforms and digital devices that allow consumers to articulate themselves creatively, this study introduces image-generated WOM (iWOM), and examines the value of UGI as visual manifestations of WOM, and its relevance to consumers, specifically sojourners (as skilled visual influencers), able to shape viewer perception and stimulate VFR (visiting friends and relatives) tourism — a form of tourism that is a product of existing social relationships. Underpinned by the theories of visual rhetoric and emotional contagion, and building on studies in destination image, WOM and VFR tourism, this iterative sequential mixed-methods research comprises expert interviews, quantitative analysis of dyadic/paired survey data and a rhetorical visual analysis. </p> <p>Key theoretical contributions of this research include: moving the emphasis of WOM from textual/verbal to visual forms of communication; and establishing the position of UGI as persuasive artefacts that can be used to stimulate VFR tourism, where studies in VFR tourism have neglected research in areas pertaining to online communications. In addition, this study demonstrates the difference in the intervening role of tie strength and relationship type (friend/relative) in viewer consumption of images received. This study contributes to practice by establishing the importance of sojourners as critical online ambassadors able to connect destinations, specifically conurbations with constrained resources that tend to fall outside popular tourism centres, to global VFR markets. Further, the rich contextual findings garnered from the visual analysis provide insights into interactions between sojourners and the destination that have implications for city planners, tourism and hospitality marketers. </p>

More than words: decoding the influence of user-generated images on visiting friends and relatives (VFR) tourism

<p>Visual images are fundamental to the promotion of tourism destinations and convey critical aspects of destination image. As such, Destination Marketing Organisations (DMOs) have capitalised on the art of image making and disseminating place myths to capture the attention of consumers through mass media. However, the growing popularity of online networks has connected billions of active consumers, elevating word of mouth (WOM) into its electronic form, e-WOM, and causing a shift in the balance of power and knowledge — where DMOs are no longer solely responsible for the communication of a destination’s image. Despite the growing number of studies surrounding e-WOM and user-generated content (UGC), few scholars have endeavoured to examine the capacity of user-generated images (UGI) as persuasive visual displays of WOM, and the role of their creators (consumers) as influencers able to spread marketing rhetoric; in particular aspects of destination image, through the visual mode. </p> <p>Acknowledging the growing popularity of visual platforms and digital devices that allow consumers to articulate themselves creatively, this study introduces image-generated WOM (iWOM), and examines the value of UGI as visual manifestations of WOM, and its relevance to consumers, specifically sojourners (as skilled visual influencers), able to shape viewer perception and stimulate VFR (visiting friends and relatives) tourism — a form of tourism that is a product of existing social relationships. Underpinned by the theories of visual rhetoric and emotional contagion, and building on studies in destination image, WOM and VFR tourism, this iterative sequential mixed-methods research comprises expert interviews, quantitative analysis of dyadic/paired survey data and a rhetorical visual analysis. </p> <p>Key theoretical contributions of this research include: moving the emphasis of WOM from textual/verbal to visual forms of communication; and establishing the position of UGI as persuasive artefacts that can be used to stimulate VFR tourism, where studies in VFR tourism have neglected research in areas pertaining to online communications. In addition, this study demonstrates the difference in the intervening role of tie strength and relationship type (friend/relative) in viewer consumption of images received. This study contributes to practice by establishing the importance of sojourners as critical online ambassadors able to connect destinations, specifically conurbations with constrained resources that tend to fall outside popular tourism centres, to global VFR markets. Further, the rich contextual findings garnered from the visual analysis provide insights into interactions between sojourners and the destination that have implications for city planners, tourism and hospitality marketers. </p>

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.