Fourth International Conference on Tourism and Leisure Studies

Abstract

While Asian-Americans are among the fastest growing travel group in the United States, information on specific subgroups is limited. Research on leisure and travel among Hmong is scant but important as the U.S. population grows. Unlike other immigrant groups (Johnson-Gaither, 2014; Taylor, Grandjean, & Gramann, 2011), Hmong visit nature-based settings and participate in outdoor recreation at a rate disproportionately higher than the general U.S. population (Hutchison, 1993; Price, 1995). However, issues of racism, cultural misunderstanding, and community discourse exist, particularly with Hmong and hunting (Bengston, Schermann, Moua, & Lee, 2008; Price, 1995; Schein & Thoj, 2007). The purpose of this project was to understand Hmong immigrants’ nature-based leisure travel and constraints to that travel. Focus groups among three age groups explored constraints to leisure travel among Hmong living in Minnesota. A Hmong community member and main researcher ensured the questions were both culturally and age appropriate. Content analysis of the transcripts revealed similarities between Hmong travelers and non-Hmong travelers in terms of travel constraints. However, the territorial and institutional constraints may be unique to Hmong, or at least more frequent among non-dominant groups. Hmong shared experiences of perceived discrimination, across generations, as a travel constraint. Generational differences did exist in the prominence of certain constraints. Focus group discussions revealed some measure of market share loss to other destinations. Results can inform planning, marketing, and product development. Future research should consider other subgroups, destinations, level of acculturation and gender.