Navigating borders: Opportunities and challenges in cross-border tourism

Nguyen Thi Quynh Yen
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University

March 23, 2025

“So Flower Kingfisher exchanged his beautiful outfit for several kilograms of fish caught by the Pelicans. I retail that catch and earn a profit enough for this whole year.”

—In “Flower Kingfisher”; Wild Wise Weird [1]

[SCICOMM]

Cross-border tourism, which involves travel across international boundaries, plays a crucial role in fostering economic growth, cultural exchange, and regional cooperation. However, it also presents unique challenges, including regulatory discrepancies, infrastructure disparities, and economic policies that impact tourism flows. Addressing these issues effectively can enhance the benefits of cross-border tourism while mitigating its limitations.

Protected areas along international borders illustrate the complexities of cross-border tourism. Despite geographical proximity and ecological similarities, visitor numbers can vary significantly due to differences in infrastructure, marketing strategies, and border management policies. For instance, Mayer et al. [2] examined tourism patterns between Poland’s Uj?cie Warty and Germany’s Lower Oder Valley national parks. Although separated by only 70 kilometers, disparities in tourism infrastructure and promotional efforts led to significant differences in visitor numbers, underscoring the need for coordinated cross-border tourism management.



Community engagement is another key factor influencing the success of cross-border tourism. Stacchini et al. [3] developed an index to assess community participation in tourism development, highlighting three essential components: residents’ involvement in planning, their openness to hosting visitors, and their engagement in service provision through the sharing economy. Regions with high levels of community participation tend to experience more sustainable tourism outcomes, particularly in remote areas where traditional investment in tourism infrastructure may be limited.

Economic policies, such as tariffs and tourism taxation, also shape cross-border tourism dynamics. For example, tariffs imposed on Canadian goods entering the United States have significantly impacted tourism-dependent border communities like Ellicottville, New York. Real estate markets have suffered, and local businesses have experienced decreased patronage as Canadian tourists have reduced travel to the U.S. [4]. Similarly, tourism taxation policies can deter international tourists, particularly in economies reliant on tourism revenue. Adedoyin et al. [5] found that in the Maldives, a 10% increase in tourism taxes led to a 5.4% decline in inbound tourists, demonstrating the sensitivity of tourism demand to fiscal policies.

Borders function as both barriers and conduits for tourism. While traditionally seen as obstacles, contemporary perspectives recognize borders as dynamic spaces that facilitate cultural and economic exchange [6]. However, the permeability of borders varies depending on geopolitical and socio-cultural factors, influencing the movement of tourists and the economic benefits associated with cross-border travel.

To optimize the potential of cross-border tourism, policymakers should focus on harmonizing regulations, enhancing community engagement, and investing in sustainable infrastructure. By viewing borders as spaces for positive interaction rather than barriers, regions can capitalize on tourism’s economic, cultural, and environmental advantages, fostering long-term regional development and mutual understanding [7-8].

References

[1] Vuong QH. (2024). Wild Wise Weird. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BG2NNHY6/

[2] Mayer M, et al. (2019). Cross-border tourism in protected areas: Potentials, pitfalls and perspectives. Springer.

[3] Stacchini A, et al. (2024). A non-compensatory index of community participation in cross-border tourism development processes. Land, 13(9), 1519. https://doi.org/10.3390/land13091519

[4] Goshgarian M. (2025). How tariffs on Canada are impacting tourism-based border communities. https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/news/2025/03/18/tariff-on-canada-starting-to-impact-tourism-based-border-communities-

[5] Adedoyin FF, et al. (2023). The effect of tourism taxation on international arrivals to a small tourism-dependent economy. Journal of Travel Research, 62(1), 135–153. https://doi.org/10.1177/00472875211053658

[6] Timothy DJ, et al. (2016). Editorial: Tourism issues and international borders in the Nordic Region. Scandinavian Journal of Hospitality and Tourism, 16(1), 1–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15022250.2016.1244504

[7] Nguyen MH. (2024). How can satirical fables offer us a vision for sustainability? Visions for Sustainability. https://ojs.unito.it/index.php/visions/article/view/11267

[8] Vuong QH, Nguyen MH. (2025). On Nature Quotient. https://dipot.ulb.ac.be/dspace/bitstream/2013/390547/3/wp25003.pdf