ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the meaning of Freedom of Movement and its relevance to tourism, and its relationship to human rights. It explores the right to freedom of mobility in a range of issues linked to globalisation, including the impact of COVID-19 on mobility, accessibility, rise of nationalism, travel visas, national security and technology, and migrant workers. Mobility over large distances used to be a luxury, yet in the 20th Century, it has become a significant part of Western modernity. Since ancient times, limited groups of people have been moving across borders: i.e., on pilgrimages to sacred sites, travelling for trade, participating in the Grand Tour, or making recreational visits to the seaside and countryside. Prior to COVID-19, growth in tourist numbers led some nation-states to control the flow of tourists – particularly for destinations threatened by overtourism. The recent global phenomenon that has severely constrained physical movement is COVID-19.
