Introduction
Globalisation, transnational business advancements, and worldwide technological developments have critical significances in the global domain. These factors have led to a spectacular transformation in the frequency, circumstance, and means through which individuals from varied cultures interact.
Analytically, international travels have declined barriers to international understandings in various contexts (Guedes & Faria 2010, p. 145). With the high rate of international movements, notable cultural disparities are bound to shift dramatically.
Relative to the last centuries, nations have become more liberal in their border restrictions; there have been a lot of cultural exchanges, business orientations, and international movements. Additionally, a lot of emigration as well as immigration have occurred globally. This has diffused cultures through the process of enculturation.
It is indeed critical to note that there is an overwhelming reduction of barriers due to cultural differences (Ahlstrom & Bruton 2009 p. 56). This discussion therefore supports the proposition that increased international movements and familiarity by individuals reduces the effects of cultural barriers as roadblocks to international understanding.
How International Travel Breaks Down Cultural Barriers
Intense international travel and familiarity with different cultures have led to a naturalisation process creating cross-cultural solutions within the global trade demands. Communication as well as positive interactions has increasingly assumed the centre stage amongst organizations, consumers, and other potential stakeholders and colleagues (Ringel-Bickelmaier & Ringel 2010, p. 524).
Due to enhanced communication, it is notable that some native cultural practices have been shed off hence indicating how cultural differences will decline as a hindrance to international understanding. Moreover, the growing technological advances have gradually led to a more uniform globalized business and social culture (Billikopf 2009).
This has systematically made international communities to be accommodative with one another. Consequently, a more general business culture has been adopted to enhance global relevance and competitiveness.
The more individuals travel globally, the more they come to know about the worldās general geography, composition, and culture. In addition to this, they also learn about different cultures that they get exposed to (Ngomsi 2006). As a result, people acquire knowledge and get gradually literate about traditions as well as beliefs within the states that they visit.
More interestingly is the increased incidences of international employment or jobs. These enhance individualsā capacity to develop interests on how to conduct businesses in different cultures, the traditions to be considered, and their implications. Consequently, cultural differences acting as a roadblock to international understanding will decline.
International visitors are always interested in meeting new individuals from divergent cultures (Luthans, Doh & Hodgetts 2012, p. 94). It is critical to note that international travel may only break down cultural barriers under some notable circumstances. For instance, the traveller must be open minded and eager to develop sincere interests in other individuals.
Frequently, most international travellers combine personal and business visits or vacations. This has led to an increased global business awareness and competitiveness, causing a remarkable reduction in cultural barriers in the international community (Hill 2007, p. 119).
As a result, foreigners have gained adequate knowledge on other countries, noting down their cultural strengths and weaknesses and being able to adapt to the situations. It is apparent that with the increased globalization and technological advances, there is more cultural diffusion enhanced by increased international travels.
Different states have adopted a globally completive culture to give their organizations a cutting edge in the international business domain. International travel helps to broaden individualās perspectives. Additionally, it alleviates the barriers and stereotypes emergent from cultural disparities.
International travel lessens interpersonal and cultural disparities within populations (Ngomsi 2006). Since business is a product of individual interaction and association, it is clear that international travel helps to streamline the process.
If these individuals are operating on divergent cultural coding, challenges are likely to emanate. This is why interpersonal communication and cultural understanding remain vital factors in minimizing the detrimental effects of cultural disparities (Schollhammer 1994, p. 5).
It is notable that the cross-cultural disparities follow on to great levels of business operation including the management approach as well as the corporate culture (Mead & Andrews 2009, p. 128). Due to international travel, it is partly evident that the economy as well as the global market place is getting gradually varied and interconnected.
There are several instances of international integration that are attributed to the frequency of international travel. Several cultures have been diffused and adopted. These include management, human resource, as well as other corporate cultures that were originally unique to specific global segments.
As a result of international travel, emigration and immigration rates have gradually increased. Consequently, cultural differences have declined.
Most corporate managers and supervisors are increasingly faced with the challenge of understanding the new employee cultures (Edwards & Rees 2006, p. 94). International travels have also been potential reconnaissance grounds for most global organizations. Through these, organizations have learnt how to culturally adjust to the local demands of some particular states.
Cultural learning is observed as a gradual process, which continues to occur. As a result of international travel, global understanding has increased. Apart from this, workers and employers have learnt to value and operate within cultural disparities (Ngomsi 2006). The cultural awareness has gradually made international work easier and led to global competitiveness.
Due to international travel, people have developed novel social skills, practices, and behaviours. In addition to this, they have also developed flexibility required to communicate and operate with others in different languages from divergent cultures (Cullen & Parboteeah 2010, p. 211).
There has been an increased knowledge and fluency in foreign languages due to international travel. As a result, several cultural barriers have been relegated. This is due to the fact that language forms a critical barrier to cross-cultural uniformity.
There is a general indication that learning a particular language is a critical part of culture learning. Thus when international travellers learn a certain language comprehensively, they develop a complete comprehension of the cultures, practices, as well as traditions of native language speakers (Deresky 2011, p. 148).
International travel has also led to the emergence of multi-lingual personalities hence declining roadblocks to international understanding.
Conclusion
There is an increasing evident that the increased international travel has eradicated cultural barriers in the global scene. It is clear that positive integration, cross-cultural communication as well as understanding are crucial pillars for effective global businesses and social interactions.
Ideally, these include critical factors enhanced by increasing international travels in the present world. The increasing cultural diffusion due to international travels has broken prominent barriers to international understandings.
This has been propelled by the increasing emigration and immigration cases. In the business context, cultural interaction with clients is vital for effectiveness. Alleviation of stereotypes through personal cultural experiences in different global destinations is a vital factor enhanced through international travel.
Generally, it is observable that international travel has significantly contributed towards the elimination of cultural hindrances that have negatively impacted on the global understandings.
List of References
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