Fourth International Conference on Tourism and Leisure Studies

Abstract

The African diaspora’s “re‐migration” to presumed homelands in Africa has been steadily gaining popularity among African-Americans for some time now. With the emergence of the Black Travel Movement, including organizations and companies that cater specifically towards Black travelers – the industry has seen a surge in travelers wanting to “go home” (Dillette, Benjamin & Carpenter, 2018). This idea of returning to the homeland is permeated with symbolism and social meaning for many, especially in our current political climate. Though the industry has witnessed a boom in this type of “roots tourism” – research on these experiences is very limited (Mensah, 2015). In order to address this gap, this research study explored the lived experiences of African-American roots travelers on a trip Ghana, West Africa. Using an ethnographic case study approach, data was collected from participants before, during and after their experience. Preliminary findings reveal a form of ‘double consciousness’ as coined by W.E.B. Du Bois and a sense of heightened civic duty as a result of the travel experience. This work will focus not only on the research findings, but also on the connection between roots tourism and valuing diversity and culture in the tourism experience.