According to the Pew Charitable Trusts, an unprecedented number of people now live outside of their birth country (244 million in 2015, triple the total in 1960.. This is made possible by globalization, or the idea that countries are becoming more alike and interconnected due to (1) faster and more reliable transportation options, and (2) advances in telecommunication technologies (e.g. internet, social media).

These advances in transportation and telecommunication also mean today’s migrants are more transnational in nature. They are able to stay connected to friends, family, and news from their birth countries, as well as with others who may have moved to other different countries. In other words, a transnational migrant may have family in different countries, speak different languages, own assets in different countries, and may even be a citizen of multiple countries.

Take a look at the link below to see which countries in the world allow citizens to hold multiple citizenships.

While migration is often viewed as problematic, it also can promote sustainable development. For families in impoverished regions, remittances enhance financial security and, with the right policies, can drive local economic growth. In industrialized countries with aging populations, migrant workers are becoming increasingly vital to the labor force and help sustain national welfare systems. Therefore, both national and international policies must acknowledge the role of migration in sustainable development and explicitly protect migrants’ rights, which are frequently overlooked in efforts to limit their movement.

3.5.1 International Migration and Globalization

The global reorganization of labor markets significantly influences migration patterns. In higher income countries, there is a high demand for semi-skilled and unskilled workers, including cleaners, housemaids, and seasonal agricultural laborers. The informal sector, or ‘underground economy,’ is the largest employer of undocumented international migrants. This sector is primarily made up of small-scale enterprises in industries like textiles, clothing, and construction, which serve as subcontractors for larger firms. These larger companies prefer outsourcing to hiring employees directly, seeking flexibility to adapt to irregular production patterns. However, outsourcing firms do not oversee the recruitment practices of their subcontractors, who often hire undocumented migrants to cut costs associated with welfare and taxes.

Undocumented migrants are not the reason for the existence of informal labor markets in higher income countries; rather, illegal migration benefits employers more than the migrants themselves. To address this, there is a need for increased flexibility in labor markets while simultaneously maintaining and enhancing workers’ rights and improving working conditions. This is a complex challenge that must be confronted, especially in Western Europe, where immigration can help mitigate the negative impacts of an aging population. With declining fertility rates leading to a lower ratio of workers to pensioners, documented migrants whose employers pay full non-wage contributions can be valuable in supporting pension and health systems. Policymakers must consider this when developing strategies.

3.5.2 Illegal Immigration

Media coverage, political debates, and political wrangling sometimes make us think that politicization of migration is new. But in the fourteenth century, China built the Great Wall in part as a defensive measure, but also as a barrier to keep Chinese in and Mongols out. In different areas of the world such wall building has continued to this day; i.e. the walls between the United States and Mexico or the walls built around the Spanish cities of Ceuta and Melilla in Morocco. They are attempts at fighting illegal immigration

Illegal migration into North America, particularly the United States, has been a persistent and complex issue for decades. Migrants often cross the border illegally in search of better economic opportunities, fleeing violence, or reuniting with family members. Many of these migrants come from Latin American countries, such as Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala, driven by poverty, crime, and political instability in their home countries. The journey is fraught with peril, involving dangerous terrain, exploitation by human traffickers, and the risk of apprehension by border authorities. Despite these risks, the promise of employment, safety, and a better quality of life in the U.S. continues to attract thousands of undocumented migrants each year.

The impact of illegal migration on North America is multifaceted. Economically, undocumented migrants often fill essential, yet low-paying, labor-intensive jobs in agriculture, construction, and service industries, contributing to sectors that rely on a labor force willing to work under challenging conditions. However, this migration also strains public resources, including healthcare, education, and law enforcement. Politically, illegal immigration remains a contentious issue, influencing policy debates and shaping public opinion on border security and immigration reform. Efforts to address illegal migration involve a combination of enforcement measures, such as increased border security and deportations, and policy discussions aimed at comprehensive immigration reform to create pathways to legal status and address the root causes of migration.

3.5.3 Internal migration and globalisation

Another significant aspect of globalization is the shift of manufacturing to countries with cheaper labor and the rise of international tourist resorts in lower income countries. Often, the workers in these sectors are migrants from rural areas, many of whom are women.

Tourism in The Gambia

The tourism industry in The Gambia mainly depends on the charter market, with most tourists coming on package tours from Europe, some also from North America. Although air travel connections with the rest of the world are limited, there are several direct flights to and from Europe each week, as well as some flights within the West Africa sub-region. International flight options are expanding, with Air Senegal, TAP, and Turkish Airlines having added routes to The Gambia in the past severalyears. These airlines join Brussels Airlines and Royal Air Maroc as major international operators in the country.

The services, tertiary, sector is the largest source of regular employment in The Gambia, accounting for 54.44 percent of jobs. This includes public administration, transportation, tourism, and trade. The industrial sector employs 16.04 percent, while the agricultural sector employs 27.03 percent. The pandemic has hindered or reversed poverty reduction efforts in 2020, with many households reporting decreased income from agriculture, fishing, non-farm businesses, and salaried jobs.

The tourism sector is the fastest-growing and a leading earner of foreign exchange. With a strong foundation in tourism, The Gambia has significant potential for future job creation in this sector.It is predicted for 2024 that strong remittances and rebounding tourism will remain the main drivers of real GDP growth, supporting both private consumption and investment.

To keep developing cultural tourism and the conference market, future government policies are likely to continue promoting tourism activities and encouraging greater private sector investment. Potential government initiatives to support this growth include strengthening the existing Tourism Development Area and expanding into new sites. In these areas, land will be allocated to investors at no cost and with minimal bureaucracy, for the development of top-tier hotels, high-class tourist and business facilities, sports and recreational amenities, eco-tourism ventures, river cruising projects, professional game fishing, and water-sport facilities.

The tourism industry is primarily seasonal, with most tourists visiting during the Northern Hemisphere winter and avoiding The Gambia’s rainy season from June to September.

Globalization affects internal migration as well as international movement, notably increasing the number of young women migrating independently to an unprecedented level. Despite wages and working conditions in the service sectors often falling below international standards, they remain attractive to migrants for two main reasons. First, the need for cash income in rural areas has risen, as fees for basic services like health and education are now common. Additionally, economic reforms have seldom benefited small farmers, whose incomes often barely cover basic necessities. In sub-Saharan countries, especially, opportunities for rural non-farm employment are limited, making migration unavoidable. Policies must address these issues by aiming to increase incomes from both farming and non-farm rural employment.