2026/06/02 by Aleksandra Grzymala-Kazlowska, Jenny Phillimore, Marisol Reyes Soto · 1 voice
Social Sciences · #Migration, Aging, and Tourism Studies #Diverse Aspects of Tourism Research #Migration and Labor Dynamics
paper · pdf · doi:10.1017/ics.2026.10095
openalex publication_date 2026/06/02 · openalex created_date 2026/06/03 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23
Abstract This paper explores how homestay policies for displaced Ukrainians can be structured around hospitality and shaped by dynamics of reciprocity. Drawing on 29 interviews in Poland and 26 in the UK with individuals hosting Ukrainian war refugees, we apply Komter and van Leer’s (2012) hospitality framework to examine the selectivity, reciprocity, and potential for power imbalances within host–guest relationships. The article highlights how hospitality is selectively extended, with a clear preference for Ukrainian refugees, and how policy can facilitate selectivity (e.g. when hosts can choose their guests). We show that despite differences in contexts, hosting policy and practice in the two countries, reciprocity remains a central organising principle. Our findings also demonstrate the risks of dependency and unequal power relations inherent in hospitality-based arrangements. We argue for a greater role for the state in mediating these exchanges through financial support and regulatory safeguards, ensuring more equitable and secure hosting practices.