290026 EX Field Trip: Southeast-Asia and East-Asia in Vienna (2014S)

Immigrants have shaped the appearance and development of Vienna for centuries. Urban economies have been influenced fundamentally by globalizing factors as e.g. impacts of new technologies, identity politics or different forms of mobility including tourism and immigration. In this context, this excursion explores migrant and tourism groups from Southeast/East Asia in Vienna. The increasing appearance of Asian communities in form of ‘ethnic’ businesses (e.g. restaurants, food shops, health spas), religious manifestations (e.g. Buddhist temples) or other groups (e.g. marriage migrants, student migrants) in Austria's capital is not only enhancing the "exotic" and cosmopolitan outlook of the city, but is also reflecting the rise of and the quest for "exotized" entrepreneurial activities and the deepening transnational links between Central Europe and Southeast Asia. This course consists of a mandatory meeting where basic excursion topics and issues are discussed (meaning of ‘community’, social networks and transnational relations, immigrant business, Asian tourism) and two excursion days where we will have the chance to visit Southeast/East Asian Institutions in Vienna and talk to and discuss with community/tourism representatives.