We live in a time of mass migrations. Large numbers of people are on the move, seeking refuge and opportunity in a world of war, political instability, shrinking economies and environmental stress. Meanwhile, more privileged tourists are travelling in increasingly large numbers, feeding tourism-related businesses that together make up one of the world’s largest economic sectors. In what ways are these trends connected and how are they represented? How do differences in the right to travel and cross borders reflect constructions of race, gender, sexuality and social class? Who travels and why? To explore these questions we will study some of the cultural, historical, and economic drivers of tourism and migration. We will discuss concepts of exile, asylum, human rights and diaspora while giving special attention to language, cultural linkages and transnational identities. Our reading list includes modern travel literature, non-fiction essays, refugee narratives and video testimonies, including texts by such authors as Jamaica Kincaid, Audre Lorde, Edward Said and Behrouz Boochani.