Hosting and Visiting Friends and Relatives of Vietnamese Marriage-migrant Women Living in Korea and Implications for Post-Tourism

Abstract

The current study identifies the characteristics of visiting friends and relatives (VFR) and hosting experiences of Vietnamese marriage-migrant women in their home country and Korea. A total of 20 in-depth interviews were the basis of the analysis. Findings show that the Vietnamese migrant women are the actors whose traditional boundary between the host (e.g., tourism service providers) and the guest (e.g., group package tourists) is blurred. Vietnamese marriage-migrant women are familiar with both the home and the receiving country as well as the VFR guests and hosts. They show confidence in hosting and visiting friends and relatives and traveling to both countries. This study further shows how structural regulations, family, and individual characteristics shape the VFR hosting and visiting experiences, implying dual or blurred identities as the host and the guest reflect post-tourism characteristics. Ultimately, this study further argues that the unique identity and hosting/visiting experiences of Vietnamese marriage-migrant women shape travel patterns and their perceptions while traveling with friends and relatives.