Unexpected Encounters

Exploring different dimensions of the intersection of migration and tourism in the Mediterranean, this book is the result of extensive ethnographic research carried out over a decade in the Mediterranean region. It focuses on three main themes: the impact of migrants visiting their country of origin for holidays, called roots tourism; the dynamics of the "border encounters" between local people, tourists and migrants; and how tourism has affected the cultural diversity in urban areas. The book shows how migration and tourism play complementary roles in boosting the global dynamics of cultural, social, economic and political transformation in the Mediterranean.