Tourism and Migration
The graph clearly shows a rapid exponential increase in tourism over the last 60 years and this growth is projected to increase further by 2020. European are by far the largest single group of tourists with East Asia and the Pacifi the second largest contributor. The Americas represent eh thrid largest group tourist and the with the vast size and varity of destinations in the US many Americans don't see the need to travel abroad.
The number of tourists in 1950 was approximately 40 million and today it stands at approximately 900 million people. Many factors explain this growth.
Explaining the Growth in Tourism
Many factors explain the growth these factors can be classified into social & economic, transport & technology and product development.
Social and Economic
There are many types of tourism activities that vary in purpose, distance and duration. Tourism can range from the weekend city trip to the gap year experience. People go on holiday for many reasons, to rest, to sight-see or for an adventure. Tourism growth is possible because of two key socio-economic factors, greater wealth and greater opportunity. As countries develop a wealthy middle class emerges, with the spending power to take regular holidays. Whilst tourism continues to grow in Europe the emergence of the middle class in East Asia has helped increase the rate of growth in tourism. Tourists from Japan and China as well as other East Asian econmies is on the increase as people living there get wealthier. With increased spending power comes the opportunity to travel further and more often. This opprtunity to travel comes also from increased leisure time and workers rights. For example the creation of the two-day weekend and flexi-time enable people to enjoy weekend city trips. The function of paid holidays allows people to both afford and take more extended holdiays in the summer and winter.
Transport and Technology
The number of tourists in 1950 was approximately 40 million and today it stands at approximately 900 million people. Many factors explain this growth.
Explaining the Growth in Tourism
Many factors explain the growth these factors can be classified into social & economic, transport & technology and product development.
Social and Economic
There are many types of tourism activities that vary in purpose, distance and duration. Tourism can range from the weekend city trip to the gap year experience. People go on holiday for many reasons, to rest, to sight-see or for an adventure. Tourism growth is possible because of two key socio-economic factors, greater wealth and greater opportunity. As countries develop a wealthy middle class emerges, with the spending power to take regular holidays. Whilst tourism continues to grow in Europe the emergence of the middle class in East Asia has helped increase the rate of growth in tourism. Tourists from Japan and China as well as other East Asian econmies is on the increase as people living there get wealthier. With increased spending power comes the opportunity to travel further and more often. This opprtunity to travel comes also from increased leisure time and workers rights. For example the creation of the two-day weekend and flexi-time enable people to enjoy weekend city trips. The function of paid holidays allows people to both afford and take more extended holdiays in the summer and winter.
Transport and Technology
The emergence of new technologies in communications and transport has helped increase the growth of tourism. Transport infrastructure, such as airports and fast speed railway has increased and in doing so reduced the time taken to travel from one place to another. The aviation industry has reduced industry costs and creative pricing models have reduced the price of flying for the tourist. Advances in techonology, especially in regard to the internet has given people a greater control and independence in how they taylor holidays to their personal choice. Today the vast majority of people organise their holiday on the internet, including transport, accomodation, and sight seeing. This saves time , provides greater flexibility and is often cheaper.
Product Development
Early tourism growth came from the development of services such as chartered flights and package holidays. In this way through renting planes and putting a package of services together travel agencies could reduce the cost to tourists and create affordable holidays for the masses. This helped grow tourism through the 1960s and 70s. In recent years with the dominance of the internet and success of low-cost airlines many other types of holiday destination have emerged. The creation of the city trip to New York, Brussels or Paris through low-cost and well timed flights has developed a new type of tourist destination. The rebranding of cities to cater for this type of tourism has emerged across Europe. Developing countries have also recognised the importance of marketing themselves as suitable holiday destinations and have identified the potential of tourism as a key cornerstone for economic growth and employment. The way these tourist destinations are marketed has become increasingly sophisticated. Countries look to identify natural adanatages and market that through creative advertisements across a number of medium, including radio & TV, the press and the internet.
The Impact of Mass Tourism
The Environment
There is no doubt that an increase from 40 to over 900 million tourists a year means much greater impact on the environment. The impacts of travel and the production of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere as a result clearly contribute to the human cause of climate change. However ,it is also important to consider the local environmental impacts of mass tourism in a destination. The photo below shows the impacts of growing urbanisation in Benedorm as a direct result of the growth of tourism.
Product Development
Early tourism growth came from the development of services such as chartered flights and package holidays. In this way through renting planes and putting a package of services together travel agencies could reduce the cost to tourists and create affordable holidays for the masses. This helped grow tourism through the 1960s and 70s. In recent years with the dominance of the internet and success of low-cost airlines many other types of holiday destination have emerged. The creation of the city trip to New York, Brussels or Paris through low-cost and well timed flights has developed a new type of tourist destination. The rebranding of cities to cater for this type of tourism has emerged across Europe. Developing countries have also recognised the importance of marketing themselves as suitable holiday destinations and have identified the potential of tourism as a key cornerstone for economic growth and employment. The way these tourist destinations are marketed has become increasingly sophisticated. Countries look to identify natural adanatages and market that through creative advertisements across a number of medium, including radio & TV, the press and the internet.
The Impact of Mass Tourism
The Environment
There is no doubt that an increase from 40 to over 900 million tourists a year means much greater impact on the environment. The impacts of travel and the production of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere as a result clearly contribute to the human cause of climate change. However ,it is also important to consider the local environmental impacts of mass tourism in a destination. The photo below shows the impacts of growing urbanisation in Benedorm as a direct result of the growth of tourism.
The arrival of tourists has many impacts on the environment and in the short term these impacts tend to be positive. Western tourists value clean places and this can be a financial incentive that encourages people and governments to clean up their environment from litter and waste and ensure cleaner waters. However as tourist increase destinations can struggle to protect their environment and find that balance between the needs of local people and the wants of tourists. The growth of tourism is illustrated in Butler's model.
Butler's model shows how tourism increases over time and moves through distinct phases of development from exploration and direct involvement to more comprehensive development and consolidation before finally reaching a point of capacity over which it is possible for negative impacts to cause stagnation. With the right strategy this stagnation can be overcome or sometimes can lead to a cycle of decline.
In many cases over development of tourism can lead to environmental degradation. Population pressure on natural resources like fresh water and beaches can lead to long stagnation and social unrest.
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The Economy
The growth of tourism can have a tremendous impact on the local economy, accountable for the growth of employment and a rise in living standards. Many developing countries such as Morocco have recognised its importance for improving economic development. The following video based in Florida just shows how important a mature tourism industry can be for a national economy. The obvious benefit to come form tourism is the creation of both direct an indirect jobs. A direct job could be working in a hotel or restaurant and an indirect job would be somewhere in the supply chain. In LICS many of the jobs would exist in the informal sector.
The growth of tourism can have a tremendous impact on the local economy, accountable for the growth of employment and a rise in living standards. Many developing countries such as Morocco have recognised its importance for improving economic development. The following video based in Florida just shows how important a mature tourism industry can be for a national economy. The obvious benefit to come form tourism is the creation of both direct an indirect jobs. A direct job could be working in a hotel or restaurant and an indirect job would be somewhere in the supply chain. In LICS many of the jobs would exist in the informal sector.
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In many circumstances, especially concerning hotel chains in LICs the profits generated don't really stay in the country. Many financial flows return to the country of origin of the hotel. In order to proved holiday makers with taht unique experience, a lot of food and material are imported form abroad. Hotel complexes also attempt to provide the entire holiday experience, which limits the tourist's opportunity to experience and spend in the local community. Hotels will typically offer a range of restaurants, offer private beaches and manage a schedule of planned excurtions to the same places. The diagram below shows some of the costs of large hotels in LICs.
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The People
As already explained above there are many benefits that can come from the arrival tourism to a place. These benefits stem from the job opportunities that boost family incomes and increase access to more varied food, health care and education. However, when in the exploration and involvement phase it is easy for irresponsible interaction to develop where a dependency relationship between the local and the tourist may emerge. This unequal power relationship is difficult to break, for example, children can quickly learn to beg from western tourists, and equally westerners quickly learn to stereotype local people in terms of poverty and needyness. they see people's circumstance form only a western lense.
Another impact on the people, is to create a greater sense of cultural awareness. This can be both positive and negative. As tourists come in contact with locals, cultural exchange occurs and in many ways this is a positive experience. However it can often be on the tourist's terms and locals need to adapt their language, customs and behaviour to suit the tourists. Often the tourist struggles to adapt their own customs and behviour, which can lead to tensions. Increasingly, tourism pulls local people away from more traditional economic activity and at worst away from cultural values and codes of behaviour. The following video based in Goa develops some of the cultural impacts of tourism. The second video on cultural tourism in Kenya shows a number of examples of cultural exchange; some more positive than others.
Key Question
Watch the video on Kenya and discuss the positive and negative cultural impacts
As already explained above there are many benefits that can come from the arrival tourism to a place. These benefits stem from the job opportunities that boost family incomes and increase access to more varied food, health care and education. However, when in the exploration and involvement phase it is easy for irresponsible interaction to develop where a dependency relationship between the local and the tourist may emerge. This unequal power relationship is difficult to break, for example, children can quickly learn to beg from western tourists, and equally westerners quickly learn to stereotype local people in terms of poverty and needyness. they see people's circumstance form only a western lense.
Another impact on the people, is to create a greater sense of cultural awareness. This can be both positive and negative. As tourists come in contact with locals, cultural exchange occurs and in many ways this is a positive experience. However it can often be on the tourist's terms and locals need to adapt their language, customs and behaviour to suit the tourists. Often the tourist struggles to adapt their own customs and behviour, which can lead to tensions. Increasingly, tourism pulls local people away from more traditional economic activity and at worst away from cultural values and codes of behaviour. The following video based in Goa develops some of the cultural impacts of tourism. The second video on cultural tourism in Kenya shows a number of examples of cultural exchange; some more positive than others.
Key Question
Watch the video on Kenya and discuss the positive and negative cultural impacts
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Case Study of Mass Tourism: Goa, India
Goa is the smallest state in India, located in western India and sandwiched by states of Maharastra to the north and Kamataka to the south. It grew in popularity as a hippy hang-out through the 1960s but developed its tourism industry further from the late 1980s through the development of package holidays.
The resort has slowly grown as a mass tourism destination with its main tourist season from October through to May when average temperatures range from 31-34 degrees Celsius. Tourists are attracted by it white sandy beaches and blue crystal seas. Goa boasts a coastline 100 km in length. With the growth of tourism came the construction of many high-end hotels and services. In 2010 total tourism stood at over 2.6 million annual visitors including 440 000 foreign tourists. In 2012 , 2.7 million tourists visited Goa with only a modest growth to 450 000 foreign tourists and 2013 saw a small increase to just less than 2.8 million with the number of foreign tourists remaining the same. |
There remains some concern in Goa in regard to the sustainability of growth in the tourism sector, which is Goa's largest industry. The Indian Express article explains why, but can be summarised in the points raised by the President of the Travel Agents Association of India, Iqbal Mulla, "Tourists want privacy on the beach, safety of their family and security for their belongings. Over the years, Goa's standard on all three counts started getting relaxed. Naturally tourists are increasingly choosing other locations" .
As mass tourism has grown through the arrival of multinational hotel chains many tensions have arisen. These include environmental, social/cultural and economic tensions. At the same time government ministers claim that tourism has greatly improved the economy without the environmental consequences of traditional heavy industry. Some of the key impacts are highlighted below and have been adapted and updated from s-cool:
The Environment
The Economy
As mass tourism has grown through the arrival of multinational hotel chains many tensions have arisen. These include environmental, social/cultural and economic tensions. At the same time government ministers claim that tourism has greatly improved the economy without the environmental consequences of traditional heavy industry. Some of the key impacts are highlighted below and have been adapted and updated from s-cool:
The Environment
- Hotels with pools and gardens replace farmland has led the feforestation of mangrove swamps and the heavy demand for water tables lowers the water table. In contrast locals have access to water for just two hours a day and at times every other day.
- The loss of mangorves and dunes increases the vulnerability of local people to floods
- The government has prioritised the construction of hotels over vital infrastructure. In many areas sewage treatment is inadequate and refuse disposal poorly regulated. As a result water supplies have been polluted by dumped refuse and the marine ecosystem is in danger of being damaged beyond repair.
The Economy
- Multinationals own the majority of large hotels. Therefore the profits find their way out of the local economy. In addition, more hotels now offer all-inclusive deals. These increase the amount of leakage from the local economy as there is no incentive for the tourists to visit local businesses.
- Many local industries have been forced into decline, including toddy tapping (traditional palm wine) as deforestation makes way for hotels, valuable farm- land is also lost with some people claiming they were forced from land.
- The tradition of drying fish on the beach has been banned because the smell upsets tourists. Many locals are now banned form sites of traditional fishing or tapping by large hotel complexes. This is illegal but laws are poorly regulated
- Land prices have rocketed as speculators force them up with locals and their businesses forced out of the market, increasing the number of businesses in foreign ownership.
- Hotel management courses allow local peole to access the higher paid jobs in the industry.
- There is a multiplier effect. Tourism has had a positive effect on many businesses including... bars and restaurants, boutiques and construction.
The People
- Traditional values are being lost as local youths are influenced by foreign tourists.
- Traditional festivals are seen as something for the tourists and become disconnected form local cultural importance.
- Goa has also achieved a reputation in India as a haven for drugs, prostitution and nudity. Prostitution at its worst this can involve underage children.
- It some places in Goa crime has increased among the local population. There have been a number of incidents where tourists have been threatened, sexually abused, beaten up, robbed. However the same can also be said for tmany big European tourist resorts.
Class Activity
Have a go at deciding on a new Policy to regualte tourism in Goa. Use the following role play cards as a resource.
Attempts to make tourism more sustainable
As Butler's model suggests, tourism can become a victim of its own success. If not carefully planned, many problems can emerge from tourism. These problems, both socio-economic and environmental can cause tensions between local people and tourists and this tension can result in reduced tourism and threaten the sustainabliltiy of the tourism; as with the example of Goa, which currently appears to be at a point of stagnation. In many cases tourism and the resulting urbanisation and development that comess with it threatens the very environment and people that the tourists want to visit. As a result many countries and regions attempt to adopt policies that regulate tourism so that it is sustainable. The following image is based on the world charter for sustainable tourism.
Defining Sustainable Tourism
Sustainable tourism attempts to make as low an impact on the environment and local culture as possible, while helping to generate future employment for local people. The aim of sustainable tourism is to ensure that development brings a positive experience for local people, tourism companies and the tourists themselves.
Sustainable tourism attempts to make as low an impact on the environment and local culture as possible, while helping to generate future employment for local people. The aim of sustainable tourism is to ensure that development brings a positive experience for local people, tourism companies and the tourists themselves.
Case Study of Sustainable Tourism: Costa Rica
The climate of Costa Rica is tropical, situated between 8° and 11° north latitude, close to the equator. The average annual temperature for most of the country lies between 21.7°C and 27°C. Being close to the equator much of Costa Rica's environment is tropical rainforest and this perfect enviornment for sustainable tourism. Costa Rica has embarked on an ambitious project to protect its tropical rainforest. Since 1970 Costa Rica has protected 16 percent of its rainforest in National Parks and aims to protect a further 25 percent in the future. Another way to increase conservation, is through sustainable tourism and rural development projects.
The following videos explain how organisation like fundecor and Fundecooperation are working with communities and organisations to establish successful sustainable tourism and the trickle-down of benefits into rural communities.
The following videos explain how organisation like fundecor and Fundecooperation are working with communities and organisations to establish successful sustainable tourism and the trickle-down of benefits into rural communities.
The Environment
The Economy
The People
- The government hopes to conserve up to 40 percent of total land area as national park.
- These National parks are open to tourists. Paos Volcano National Park attracts over 300 00 annual tourists and foreign tourists pay three more than local tourists. This money is used by the government to help fund more conservation projects
- Sustainable tourist destinations like Waterfall Gardens have only a small impact on the environment and emply local people who would have been employed in the past jobs that potentially threatened the rainforest.
- Education is an essential factor in sustainable tourism and local people learn that conservation of the environment can provide sustainable employment into the future
The Economy
- Thousands of ecotourist resorts and complexes are opening up around Costa Rica. Waterfall Gardens is just one but employ more tahn 100 local people directly with many others employed through spin-off and supply for example in local food.
- The national Park System with torist taxes and entry fees creates conservation jobs and will help fund the extension of national parks acrosss Cost Rica.
- The El Tigre Project links local rural communities to the Pacuare River, which attracts over 100 00 visitors a year. Local people are introduced to new livelihood ventures such as the internet cafe, the serpentine centre and orchid and butterfly garden. These provide services and places for tourists to visit and extend their stay. The village also supplies fish and local sustainable produce to restaurants and accomodation centres along the river.
The People
- In addition to job creation, improved income sources improve access to better education and health.
- Through improved employment opportunities younger people are encouraged to stay in rural communities rather than migrate toward cities
- Improved access to information both through the internet and in schools improves the quality of life for many young people
- Rural communities are more closely linked to the environment and recognise the value of conservation for sutainable communities.
Migration
Migration refers to movement of people from one place to another. In can be forced or voluntary, short term or long term. Migration is a key component of population change alongside natural increase. If the population of a country increases in any single year this is likely to have been caused by either birth rate exceeding death rate (eading to natural increase) or in-migration exceeding out-migration (leading to positive net migration) or of course any combination of the two. International migration is increasingly important flow within the global economy.
Glossary
Voluntary Migration - When a person chooses to migrate
Forced Migration - Migration was not a free choice, for example conflict, drought
Emigration - The movement away from your home country
Immigration - The movement into a new country
Net Migration - The balance between in-migration and out-migration or emigration and immigration
Types of Migration
There are many types of migration including short term trips, such as weekend breaks and long term visits, such as gap year internships. Migration can be temporary in the case of refugees or permanent in the case of emigration to Australia. However, classfication is complex and there is a personal story behind every migration. For example many refugee camps remain in place for decades following the initial event. In addition, voluntary emigrants often return home. The most common type of migrant, the economic migrant can be divided into elite migrants and non-elite migrants. The elite economic migrant has specialised skills, for example, a musician, scientist or professional footballer. This type of migrant is very much in demand. The non-elite migrant has a low skill set and may be in demand to take non-skilled jobs in an economy but may also be looking to enter a country illegally in search of work and a better life for themselves. In other cases a migrant may be seeking asylum and be in fear of their life if they should return to their home country. In this circumstance, it is a human right to claim asylum. However this process is often abused and so each asylum request needs to be reviewed on a case by case basis.
Glossary
Voluntary Migration - When a person chooses to migrate
Forced Migration - Migration was not a free choice, for example conflict, drought
Emigration - The movement away from your home country
Immigration - The movement into a new country
Net Migration - The balance between in-migration and out-migration or emigration and immigration
Types of Migration
There are many types of migration including short term trips, such as weekend breaks and long term visits, such as gap year internships. Migration can be temporary in the case of refugees or permanent in the case of emigration to Australia. However, classfication is complex and there is a personal story behind every migration. For example many refugee camps remain in place for decades following the initial event. In addition, voluntary emigrants often return home. The most common type of migrant, the economic migrant can be divided into elite migrants and non-elite migrants. The elite economic migrant has specialised skills, for example, a musician, scientist or professional footballer. This type of migrant is very much in demand. The non-elite migrant has a low skill set and may be in demand to take non-skilled jobs in an economy but may also be looking to enter a country illegally in search of work and a better life for themselves. In other cases a migrant may be seeking asylum and be in fear of their life if they should return to their home country. In this circumstance, it is a human right to claim asylum. However this process is often abused and so each asylum request needs to be reviewed on a case by case basis.
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Push and Pull Factors The causes of migration are often classifed into push and pull factors. Push factors are the reasons that encourage people to leave a place. Pull factors are to the do with reasons that encourage people to go to a place. There are many types of push and pull factors and the video to the left describes some of them. The following video provides an excellent overview of the topic of migration, its causes and types as well as the consequences. |
Case Study: Migration into Europe
European migration policy has a number of different characteristics, involving both internal migration and immigration.
Internal Migration Policy
Within the European Union a person is free to move and work in any member state. For example, a French Citizen can compete on a level playing field with a Belgian for employment in Belgium. Within the EU there is also the Schengen Agreement which 26 European countries are members of. The Schengen Agreement allows free movement between borders without border control or visa checks. The reality of internal migration within the EU between the original E15 countries
Internal Migration Policy
Within the European Union a person is free to move and work in any member state. For example, a French Citizen can compete on a level playing field with a Belgian for employment in Belgium. Within the EU there is also the Schengen Agreement which 26 European countries are members of. The Schengen Agreement allows free movement between borders without border control or visa checks. The reality of internal migration within the EU between the original E15 countries
is one of very low migration. Most French people live and work in France. However most internal migration has come through the succession of East European countries into the EU. For example the UK has experienced a huge growth in its Polish Community. Many Poles have migrated to UK in order find better payed work and improve their quality of life.
This type of migration has brought both benefits and challenges. East European migrants have found work in E15 economies and these jobs tend to be low-skilled low paid jobs or as I like to call them, DAD jobs meaning Dirty, Anti-social and Dangerous. |
There is typically a shortage of workers in E15 countries who want to do DAD jobs. Nevertheless immigration and growing ethnic diversity does create tensions within E15 countries, with some arguing that foreign people take local jobs and are often only interested in the social benefits that they can claim. However, this isn't generally true. The video to the right explains the facts. Immigrants to the UK have made an important net contribution. In total raising £25 billion fro the UK economy between 2000 and 2010. However, for political reasons the UK has changed its immigration laws to restrict the opportunity for future Romanian and Bulgarians immigrants to claim benefits. The emphasis will be on immigrants contributing to the economy through work.
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The consequences of immigration not relate to the countries of destination but also to the countries of origin. This latter group of countries lose a vital part of its active population when its young and often educated people migrate away. Countries like Poland and Mexico are left with the costs of educating young people only to lose those those skills and potential incomes. This holds back economic growth for countries of origin. On the plus side however, countries benefit from remittances, whereby many migrants send income back to support family at home. According to a recent World Bank report total remmitances sent to developing countries in 2012 stood at over $400 billion and total remittances worldwide was over $550 billion. In different World Bank report suggests that contributions from Malians living in France have helped build 60 per cent of the country's infrastructure. About 40 Malian migrant associations in France supported nearly 150 projects. Remittances worldwide are considered one of the highest financial flows, second only to FDI.
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External Migration Policy
The European Union has an increasing challenge in managing and controlling external migration from both Asia and Africa. The EU has dual policy on external migration. Firstly they operate the Blue Card system that effectively operates a visa to work in the EU similar to the US green card. However each EU country can set its own criteria for entry and many countries today still haven't made it law despite the deadline passing. Those countries that are operating the Blue card favour highly skilled workers and the immigrants must have a job offer that pays a slaray 1.5 times that of the average salary of that country. The big criticism of the Blue Card is that it has failed to attract many skilled workers and only favours educated skilled workers offering no hope to low-skilled people who want to improve their quality of life.
This latter group of migrants have no official means to apply for entry into the EU except for bilateral arrangements (between EU countries and individual countries) such the UK and India. This absence of openness within the EU leads many people to take enormous risks in attempts to migrate into Europe. The Mediterranean crossing is by far the most dangerous single migration route in the world, responsible for approximately 15 000 deaths between 1988 and 2010 according to WissenWerte. The rate of fatalities is increasing because of improved co-European/African border controls, forcing migrants to take greater risks. The EU, through its border control agency Frontex look to stop migrants from reaching the European border. Some human rights groups have accused the EU of being complicit with wrongful inprisonment and torture of migrants crossing North African countries. More recently accusations have been made of African border control shooting live fire at migrant boats and due to large fines an Alegerian convoy of migrants died of thirst in the desert as passing vehicle failed to stop. In addition the summer of 2013 witnessed the capsizing of several migrant boats on route to Lampedusa in Italy. Europeans coast guards, including Italy, Spain and Malta were accused of passing responsibility and failed to protect the welfare of the migrants.
The European Union has an increasing challenge in managing and controlling external migration from both Asia and Africa. The EU has dual policy on external migration. Firstly they operate the Blue Card system that effectively operates a visa to work in the EU similar to the US green card. However each EU country can set its own criteria for entry and many countries today still haven't made it law despite the deadline passing. Those countries that are operating the Blue card favour highly skilled workers and the immigrants must have a job offer that pays a slaray 1.5 times that of the average salary of that country. The big criticism of the Blue Card is that it has failed to attract many skilled workers and only favours educated skilled workers offering no hope to low-skilled people who want to improve their quality of life.
This latter group of migrants have no official means to apply for entry into the EU except for bilateral arrangements (between EU countries and individual countries) such the UK and India. This absence of openness within the EU leads many people to take enormous risks in attempts to migrate into Europe. The Mediterranean crossing is by far the most dangerous single migration route in the world, responsible for approximately 15 000 deaths between 1988 and 2010 according to WissenWerte. The rate of fatalities is increasing because of improved co-European/African border controls, forcing migrants to take greater risks. The EU, through its border control agency Frontex look to stop migrants from reaching the European border. Some human rights groups have accused the EU of being complicit with wrongful inprisonment and torture of migrants crossing North African countries. More recently accusations have been made of African border control shooting live fire at migrant boats and due to large fines an Alegerian convoy of migrants died of thirst in the desert as passing vehicle failed to stop. In addition the summer of 2013 witnessed the capsizing of several migrant boats on route to Lampedusa in Italy. Europeans coast guards, including Italy, Spain and Malta were accused of passing responsibility and failed to protect the welfare of the migrants.
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There are a number of consequences of African migration into Europe. Firstly, there is the increasing cost to life due to the enormous risks people are forced and willing to take in their attempt to enter Europe.
Secondly, there is the unfair burden of managing the Mediterranean and the number of migrant arrivals. According to a UN report more than 32000 migrants had arrived in Malta and Italy in the year 2013 by just October. The costs of managing this number of migrants is absorbed almost entirely by the South European countries and not shared by the Union as a whole. This burde, during a time of economic hardship has allowed caused the developement of poor conditions and harsh treatment of migrants in cenrtres like Lampedusa.
Finally, the strict border control measures of the European/North African alliance does not differentiate sufficiently between the migrant seeking a better quality of life and the genuine asyllum seeker. Many people fleeing circumstances that threaten their lives are simply considered part of the same problem. In the long term some commentators suggest that if African people want to come to Europe they will and Europe can do little to stop them.
What is certain, is the need for a more humane, safe and transparent avenue for African migrants (of all skill-levels) to enter the European Union. Of course this needs to be balanced with the resource capacity of the European Union as well as the will of the people. The alternative policy is to boost economic development aid to radicaly improve the quality of lives of African citizens fleeing hardship. Of course this policy is not new and of course highly complex to put into practical action.
Secondly, there is the unfair burden of managing the Mediterranean and the number of migrant arrivals. According to a UN report more than 32000 migrants had arrived in Malta and Italy in the year 2013 by just October. The costs of managing this number of migrants is absorbed almost entirely by the South European countries and not shared by the Union as a whole. This burde, during a time of economic hardship has allowed caused the developement of poor conditions and harsh treatment of migrants in cenrtres like Lampedusa.
Finally, the strict border control measures of the European/North African alliance does not differentiate sufficiently between the migrant seeking a better quality of life and the genuine asyllum seeker. Many people fleeing circumstances that threaten their lives are simply considered part of the same problem. In the long term some commentators suggest that if African people want to come to Europe they will and Europe can do little to stop them.
What is certain, is the need for a more humane, safe and transparent avenue for African migrants (of all skill-levels) to enter the European Union. Of course this needs to be balanced with the resource capacity of the European Union as well as the will of the people. The alternative policy is to boost economic development aid to radicaly improve the quality of lives of African citizens fleeing hardship. Of course this policy is not new and of course highly complex to put into practical action.