Host-guest interactions between first-generation immigrants and their visiting relatives: social exchange, relations of care and travel

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to examine the social interactions between Filipino immigrant-hosts residing in New Zealand and their visiting relatives (VRs) or guests from the Philippines using social exchange theory to understand their experiences. Design/methodology/approach This qualitative, multi-sited study used in-depth interviews to examine social interactions between Filipino immigrant-host families in New Zealand and their respective visiting relatives from the Philippines. Findings Hosting VRs reflects aspects of social exchange theory, and the interdependence and familial obligations related to VR travel demonstrate mutual relations of care. Maintaining relations of care within the family is an ongoing process involving intergenerational relationships that bind together immigrant-host families and their VRs. Research limitations/implications The conceptualization of the social interactions between immigrants-hosts and VRs is not generalizable owing to the small sample size and lack of representativeness. However, despite a small sample, this qualitative inquiry uncovered a series of personal meanings and understandings attached to the maintenance of familial bonds. Practical implications As immigrant-receiving countries become more culturally diverse through migration, research about other cultures will assist tourism planners in understanding the values and actions of a more varied array of residents. A better understanding of travel experiences and interactions between immigrants and their guests may provide marketers with insights into host-guest dynamics within a VR context, thus potentially enabling tourism marketers to create better marketing campaigns. Social implications Future studies may be undertaken from non-Western and Western perspectives that examine the social interactions between hosts and guests in the context of VR travel. Very little research has been conducted that addresses the meanings and understandings attached to these interactions from the perspectives of both hosting and visiting groups. This research highlights the importance of families in tourism, a contrast with the relative blindness of tourism scholarship toward relations of domesticity and sociality. Originality/value What separates the social interactions between family members in the context of visiting friends and relatives travel from the traditional host-guest paradigm is that it does not involve strangers. This study uses social exchange theory to examine social interactions between hosts and guests who are familiar with each other.

Identifying active resident hosts of VFR visitors

“…Additional research into the specific causes of the trips relating to active hosts is also worthy of consideration. For example, better understanding the role of personal or family celebrations, reunions (e.g., Capistrano & Weaver, 2017; Mason, 2004), the scouting of potential immigration destinations, hosts demonstrating their immigration success, or simply spending time with friends and family in a leisure setting, are important and overlapping aspects whose connections and relationships could be explored and theoretically developed further. Attempts to measure and explore the true economic and socio‐cultural impacts of VFR travel, considering residents, visitors, and the community more widely, will help discussion and analysis of this undervalued, yet nuanced and substantial activity.…”

Towards decolonising tourism and hospitality research in the Philippines

“…Despite being overshadowed, these locally contextualised forms of inquiry were noteworthy. For example, Filipino sociological concepts and theoretical frameworks were embedded in an exploration of the experiences of Filipino home-coming tourists from the US (Garrido, 2010), and of New Zealand-based Filipinos hosting visiting relatives (Capistrano & Weaver, 2017). Using local literature, Galán (2009) was able to construct the destination image and authenticity of the country's summer capital, Baguio City.…”

Theoretical Reductionism: Forcing a Covering Law Doctrine of Behavioral Psychology on the Sociology of Everyday Communication and Interaction

“…Except for contemporary social theory books (see Dillon, 2010;Delaney, 2005;Trevino, 2006;Ritzer, 2007;Ritzer & Goodman, 2004), Homans is not discussed much anymore, yet his work continues to influence research in the areas of behavioral science theory (Malewski, 2017), social exchange on family farms (Gezelius, 2017), host-guest interaction (Capistrano & Weaver, 2017), employee knowledge sharing (Serenko & Bontis, 2016), organizational participation (Slack, Corlett & Morris, 2015), political science (Cann & Sidman, 2011), risk-taking and trust (Chen, 2011; Cheshire, Gerbasi & Cook 2010), organizational behavior and industrial relations (Chen, 2011;Lawler, 2001), public relations (Corbishley, 2016) emotional affect and the micro social order (Kuwabara, 2011;Lawler, 2001), social justice (Hibbert, 2010) and health care (Cook, 2000;Nakonezny & Denton, 2008).…”