Integration of “Ideal Migrants”: Dutch lifestyleexpat-preneurs in Swedish campgrounds

• Published in: Rural Society
• Main Authors: van Rooij, Niek, Margaryan, Lusine
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Mittuniversitetet, Institutionen för ekonomi, geografi, juridik och turism 2019
• Subjects: immigration; integration; tourism; entrepreneurship; camping; Human Geography; Kulturgeografi; Northern Sweden
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:miun:diva-38456; https://doi.org/10.1080/10371656.2020.1718329

This article contributes to understanding migration and integrationexperiences of privileged intra-EU migrant entrepreneurs termed“lifestyle expat-preneurs” by discussing the role of ruralentrepreneurship in the processes of integration into sparselypopulated rural areas, as exemplified by the Dutch tourismentrepreneurs in northern Sweden. Specifically, this article focuseson campground entrepreneurship, a sub-segment of rural tourismlacking much academic research. Findings demonstrate theexperiences of intra-EU lifestyle expat-preneurs are absent fromcurrently dominating theoretical, as well as political, discourses onmigration and integration. The article concludes arguingcampground entrepreneurship is a powerful catalyst of lifestylemigration, but the very nature of this business is an inhibiting,rather than supporting factor, for rural community integration.