Cross-border migration and travel: A virtuous relationship

International migration boosts travel and vice versa, bringing economic benefits but challenging public policy

University of Waikato, New Zealand, and IZA, Germany

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Elevator pitch

The ongoing relationships between emigrants and their families, friends, and business contacts in their home countries can increase outbound and inbound cross-border travel, while cross-border tourism and business and study trips can trigger migration. New communication technologies, such as social media and video chat, only partially substitute for face-to-face meetings. In fact, the greater use of such technologies boosts demand for in-person meetings. Short- and long-term cross-border movements are becoming more complex, creating challenges for measuring immigration and for defining target populations for legislation and public policy.

Cross-border travel flows and stocks of
                        migrants are substantial, 2010

Key findings

Pros

The ongoing relationships between emigrants and friends and relatives back home stimulate tourism in home and destination countries.

A country’s diaspora strengthens international business networks, which leads to growing trade and diffusion of innovation.

Advances in information and communication technologies make it easier to maintain relationship capital across borders and lower the cost of migration.

Temporary migration and travel for study, tourism, or business are effective pathways to subsequent successful settlement.

Cons

Growing global mobility and the increasing complexity of migration and travel flows reduce the usefulness of conventional statistics on flows and stocks of migrants and travelers.

Laws, regulations, and institutions developed to manage permanent and long-term settlement are not adequate in an era of increasing mobility and transnationalism.

For countries to share in the burden of providing social security to transnational populations will require new bilateral or multilateral arrangements and perhaps a greater role for cross-border portable private-sector insurance.

Author's main message

As the volume and complexity of international migration rises, many public services (health, education, pensions) and taxation may no longer be compatible with mobility patterns, and some services may require more private provision. Greater mobility also demands reconsideration of policies and laws on immigrant settlement and integration. The presence of large numbers of temporary migrants calls for a fresh look at the meaning of citizenship and cultural identity and at policies to encourage immigrant integration. Increasingly, migrants may be recruited on a “trial” basis, with temporary work or study permits providing a subsequent path to permanent residence.

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