Tourism, Culture and the Lebanese Diaspora: Culturing Tourism through Migration Tourism, Culture and the Lebanese Diaspora: Culturing Tourism through Migration

Abstract The effect of Diasporas on society have been studied from various angles, including politics, law, economy, community, and culture. However, Diasporas are rarely examined through the interaction between culture and tourism. The focal point here is how migrants forming cultural clusters attract tourists from their individual cultural groups to visit their local destinations. The significance of such findings can be best demonstrated though specific case studies, in which the relationship between Diasporas, culture, and tourism are considered in relation to specific societies or groups of individuals. Since the link between culture, tourism and the Lebanese diaspora has witnessed little or no research, it has been selected as the main topic through which the findings are verified. The paper analyses the Lebanese diaspora in London from a cultural prospective in relation to tourism, and expands on existent literature regarding the Lebanese Diaspora. Culture is examined from hospitality prospective, as hospitality plays a key role in the constitution of the Lebanese diaspora. Cultural hospitality as a modern tool of tourism attraction is deliberated upon throughout the paper. The paper distinguishes between pre-migration and post-migration affluent hospitality investors, denoting to wealthy Lebanese individuals that migrated then established hospitality businesses in London, and to others who became wealthy due to migration. The paper then categorises both groups of migrants into three classifications that every member of the Lebanese diaspora falls under, namely, "Individualism", "Tribalism", and "Sectarianism". Each of these cultural groups contributes to the tourism development in London Tourism is thus examined from a cultural perspective in order to understand methods of consumption amongst the Lebanese migrants in London, and the means of attraction in the way the culture appears to others. Mentality versus behavior concerning the Lebanese diaspora is analysed in order to elucidate the foundation of the diaspora. Conclusions pinpoint future opportunities of research related to this specific topic