An assessment about the possible impacts large number of immigrants in London may have on international tourists´ holiday experiences

Abstract

This paper examines the possible effects that the large number of immigrants living in London may have on the city´s international tourists´ holiday experiences in terms of authenticity. The essay takes the view that majority of international visitors, especially the ones from other continents, may well not be aware before their visit, that the number of non-British people currently living in London is relatively very large, compared to may other major European cities. Based on the literature used as evidence for this paper, it is argued here that many London´s tourists´ experiences may well get negative affects in terms of authenticity, not entirely because of the high number of immigrants, but because of fact that in many areas of London, the immigrants´ cultures are all mixed with each other and naturally with British culture. This argument is justified more specifically later in this discussion paper. In addition, this argument is not claimed to be ´absolute´, only the strong possibility is brought up here. A number of important reasons are presented here why this issue should be looked into and possibly managed. This has based on examples from multiple other cities, mainly in the US.

Key words: Authenticity, Tourist experiences, Immigration, London

Discussion Paper

This is an important issue to investigate for a number of reasons. Firstly, especially in the post-modern tourism patterns, tourists desire for ´authentic experiences´ of foreign cultures has become very large. London, as many other European capital and/or major cities, is seen as very modern but still rich in culture and heritage. Cities like Paris, Madrid, London and Rome have for a long time played a pivotal role in Europe, in terms of various aspects like politics, economy, tourism, fashion etc. All of these cities attract large number of tourists by their history, culture and overall ´uniqueness´. Despite this, it is argued here that many London´s tourists´ experiences may well get negative affects in terms of authenticity, due to high number of immigrants, which has grown extremely rapidly in the last decade, even to the point that during the whole year of 2005, approximately 1,500 migrants arrived every day to the UK with the intention to stay. And this was even less than in the previous year. London has always been the home for a major part of the UK´s migrants. According to the Office of National Statistics, in 2009 in Newham, East London, over 75 % of the babies born, were to immigrant mothers. In Wembley, over half of the area´s residents are immigrants. This area where the most famous English sporting complex, the Wembley Stadium is located, makes inevitably its visitors to see what England and London at this day are; extremely multicultural. The Stadium hosts guided tours for tourists that emphasize the English sporting culture and history (www.wembleystadium.com). At the same time outside the Stadium "you find a Kenyan running a halal Chinese restaurant, a Sri Lankan with a Polish delicatessen and an African police community support officer who speaks Sanskrit but wants asylum seekers sent home." (news.bbc.co.uk 2). Based on the literature used here as evidence, this is a widespread issue in London, which brings this ´inter-cultural consumption´ to a totally other level. It is argued here that it very likely might not be a desired, not to mention authentic cultural experience for a tourist to travel to England from another continent and buy Polish sausages from a Sri Lankan restaurant owner. This might well be the reason why it has been said that the large number of immigrants in England are harming the local culture, as in many cases the variety of cultures have been mixed together.

The viewpoint taken here for the term ´authenticity´ in the context of tourism is very similar to what it is in the context of museums, "where persons expert in such matters test whether objects of art are what they appear to be or are claimed to be, and therefore worth the price that is asked for them - or if this has already been paid, worth the admiration they have been given." (Trilling, 1972, pp. 93). It is argued here that this definition of the term is very applicable for the authenticity in the context of tourism, as much of the attractions tourists wish to see and ´experience´ are very much put ´on display´, despite of the destination´s location in the world. "Products of tourism such as works of art, festivals, rituals, cuisine, dress, housing, and so on are usually described as "authentic" or "inauthentic" in terms of the criterion of whether they are made or enacted "by local people according to custom or tradition." (Wang, 1999, pp. 350).

It is suggested that the city´s officials should encourage as much as possible immigrants to commercialise the various aspects of their cultures. Many cities, especially in America, benefit greatly this way from their immigrants. For example, New York´s Little Italy and Chinatown and Boston´s Latino District and Caribbean Community are very popular attractions among tourists. "Whether well-established or new ethnic settlements, the commercial sectors of these neighbourhoods have become recognised as magnets for roots-seeking tourists looking for experiences that ring true, feel untainted and taste authentic." (Halter, 2003, pp. 6). This could bring multiple benefits to London; employment rates could be increased, British culture preserved and London´s tourism attractiveness could be brought up even more. Evidences from multiple other cities in the world support this argument. London is currently a major tourism destination, but potential to become even bigger exists, for example due to the rapidly growing Asian middle classes. This means more disposable income for future potential visitors. Relating to this, a study by Li et al., (2011) shows that Chinese tourists heavily expect cultural authenticity when they travel. Partly because of this and the 2012 London Olympics, international inbound tourism to the city can only be expected to increase remarkably in the near future.

Sources:

MacCannell D. (1999): The Tourist: A New Theory of The Leisure Class, University of California Press, USA

Rodríguez del Bosque & San Martín (2008): Tourist Satisfaction; A Cognitive-Affective Model, Annals of Tourism Research Vol. 35 No 2, pp. 551-573, Elsevier Science Ltd USA

Wang N. (1999): Rethinking Authenticity in Tourism Experience, Annals of Tourism Research Vol. 26 No 2 pp. 349-370, Elsevier Science Ltd, UK

news.bbc.co.uk: Born Abroad: An Immigration Map of Britain, BBC Website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/uk/05/born_abroad/html/overview.stm, Accessed 8.5.2011

www.workpermit.com: UK Immigration Statistics for Past Two Years, Available on http://www.workpermit.com/news/2006_11_21/uk/2-year_immigration_statistics.htm, Accessed 8.5.2011

The discussion paper left very good impression. The author provided really useful examples and findings for the better understanding of the topic; this is an important issue to investigate for a number of reasons.

Firstly, London is often described as an 'international city', once primarily in relation
To its imperial role, but since the 1980s more broadly as a 'global city' serving the whole world. The main justification for this title has been the concentration of many dynamic 'command and control' functions for an increasingly integrated world economy, most notably in and around the City. (E.g. Sassen, 1991).
An equally remarkable and even more pervasive kind of internationalisation of the city in this period has been in its population, which has become dramatically more diverse over the past 20 years, with large numbers of new migrants from many places, most of which (unlike the homes of earlier post war migrants) were never part of the British Empire.
The reasons why people have travelled from overseas to London - for work, Refuge, stimulus, profit, personal development and pleasure - are almost as Varied as their origins, but by no means unique to this city. Many large urban centres have a history of immigration, some on a much larger scale than was the case for London - for example Toronto, Los Angeles, Sydney and New York - but these too have experienced large new waves over recent Decades which have a very similar character to that affecting London. Other European cities, like Paris and Amsterdam, are also experiencing more cosmopolitan as well as larger inflows now, if not to the same degree as London.
The connection of international migration with high-level political power is clearly a very old one. Three monarchs came from Europe and a number of others married foreigners. Strong connections were developed with rulers. And royal families in many other European countries. With all these links and Transitions there came larger groups of foreign migrants, some to the courts themselves, and some to pursue the commercial opportunities opened up by the internationalisation of the monarchy.
London's trading role was also a major stimulus to migration, and migrants Contributed greatly to it from the very beginning.
The City developed as a Centre of overseas trade from the period of Roman occupation onwards, and The fact that its main city was a wholly Roman creation, with no native past, Marked Britain out from virtually all other provinces of Rome: 'London began As a city of foreigners, and long continued as a government town, whose Resident authority overawed native British custom' (Morris, 1982, p280-p281).
Also this is good point the 2012 London Olympics, international inbound tourism to the city can only be expected to increase remarkably in the near future.
The author has discussed the topic well and shows understanding of the issues related to the large number of immigrants living in London.