Cross-border travel as a function of exchange and ritualistic interaction

ABSTRACT

Cross-border travel from one administrative region to another is increasingly prevalent with escalating development in transportation. The travel, such as that from Hong Kong to Mainland China, is conducive to socioeconomic development in places concerned. For promoting travel and development, a review of existing work suggests enhancing cross-border exchange or gain through trading or cooperation, and ritualistic interaction, which employs collective synchronization to arouse emotions about the destination. To address the research gap in the suggestion, this study analyzes data collected from a random sample survey of 1,065 Hong Kong Chinese residents. Results revealed that the exchange but not the ritualistic interaction displayed a significant contribution to the travel. The results imply that enhancing the exchange is a way to sustain the travel.

KEYWORDS:

• Cross-border travel
• national attachment
• interaction ritual
• exchange

Acknowledgments

The paper evolves from a research grant provided by the City University of Hong Kong (#7004503).

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research.