Assessing roles and strategies of public sector stakeholders in an evolving (lifestyle) migration industry: the case of the Dutch Emigration Expo

Marco Eimermann (), Camille Hochedez, Stefan Kordel, Ricard Morén-Alegret, Karijn Nijhoff, Daniel Tomozeiu, Kate Torkington and Tobias Weidinger
Additional contact information
Marco Eimermann: Umeå University = Umeå Universitet
Camille Hochedez: IDEES - Identité et Différenciation de l’Espace, de l’Environnement et des Sociétés - UNICAEN - Université de Caen Normandie - NU - Normandie Université - ULH - Université Le Havre Normandie - NU - Normandie Université - UNIROUEN - Université de Rouen Normandie - NU - Normandie Université - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - IRIHS - Institut de Recherche Interdisciplinaire Homme et Société - UNIROUEN - Université de Rouen Normandie - NU - Normandie Université
Stefan Kordel: FAU - Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg = University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
Ricard Morén-Alegret: UAB - Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona = Autonomous University of Barcelona = Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona
Karijn Nijhoff: The Hague University of Applied Sciences
Daniel Tomozeiu: University of London [London]
Kate Torkington: UAlg - Universidade do Algarve
Tobias Weidinger: FAU - Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg = University of Erlangen-Nuremberg

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Abstract: This study focuses on local and regional governments using placebranding strategies to attract intra-EU inward migration for demographic and/or economic purposes. This forms an important aspect of contemporary migration industries, whereby the interlinking of lifestyle, work and economic investment is pivotal. Taking the case of the Emigration Expo event in the Netherlands, it draws on interviews with the organizer and with public sector exhibitors to assess their purposes, roles and strategies when participating in the event. In addition, this paper examines to what extent public sector agents perceive this Expo as a viable physical event, contributing to a lifestyle migration industry. Findings suggest a shift in public sector strategies from attracting residents to recruiting skilled workers or lifestyle entrepreneurs and businesses. Exhibitors that maintain a recurring presence at the Expo over several years can build meaningful relations with each other and with prospective migrant visitors, providing practical information and integrated 'packages' to promote their destination as an attractive place to work and live. This supports the idea that (e)migration expos remain relevant physical sites of an evolving branch of the migration industry, including public-private partnerships involved in place and relocation branding as part of spatial planning strategies beyond growth.

Keywords: Emigration Expo; lifestyle migration; migration industry; place branding; public sector stakeholders; relocation branding (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-04702575v1
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Published in Geografiska Annaler: Series B, Human Geography, inPress, ⟨10.1080/04353684.2024.2405671⟩

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-04702575

DOI: 10.1080/04353684.2024.2405671

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