In the second season of the TV series “The White Lotus”, three generations of a fictional American family travel to Sicily with the aim of trying to reconnect with their ancestral roots. Although their journey doesn’t always go smoothly, genealogy trips like the one they took have become a huge business.
In the past, Americans rummaged through dusty books and often followed their instincts. But DNA testing sites, online genealogy databases and social media have made the search much easier, spurring a growing interest in family genealogy trips.
A market analysis carried out by Grand View Research reveals that global genealogy tourism is a sector that generates almost US$600 billion per year and is expected to continue growing at a rate of around 4% per year until 2030. And TV shows like “ Who Do You Think You Are?” (“Who do you think you are?”, in free translation) and “Finding your roots”, which mainly follow celebrities on their journey of discovering their genealogy, continue to inspire others in their search.
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Not everyone goes on a genealogy trip for the same reason: perhaps you want to meet living relatives to exchange photos and stories. You may be looking for official documents to obtain dual citizenship. Or you may simply be looking to connect with a place your family once called home.
Here are some tips for planning your own family genealogy trip.
Follow your DNA.
Services like Ancestry.com, FamilyTreeDNA, MyHeritage, and 23andMe use your genes to decode your family’s possible places of origin. Other DNA testing sites cater to specific ethnic groups, such as African Ancestry, which focuses on African ancestry, or Somos Ancestria, which focuses on Latino origins. The price of DNA testing kits, which typically require a saliva sample, can range between $40 and $300, depending on the company and the level of detail you want in the results.
Be social
Start with your extended family: ask about family trees and past genealogy-related trips. Then search social media. Join the conversation in Facebook groups dedicated to specific ethnic groups or locations, such as the “South American Genealogy Research Community”; the “Marshall County, Mississippi, Genealogy”; or the “Finnish American Heritage Society of Maine”. You might even discover a group dedicated to your last name: I found one about “The Sims.”
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Consider hiring a professional
If you don’t have the time or patience to do the legwork, you can hire an expert: the Association of Professional Genealogists maintains a searchable database. Or you can hire a professional family genealogy travel planner to help create an itinerary and, in some cases, accompany you during the trip.
The cost of professional help varies depending on the level of personalized guidance you want to receive. For example, italyMondo!, a , performs genealogical research and creates an itinerary for you to follow on your own, charging US$2,000 for this service. But for $5,000 to $10,000, you can have a professional walk you along the way.
Other companies, like MyChinaRoots, use their research to identify destinations. You can choose to hire an expert guide to help you make the most of your visit. the daily rate for MyChinaRoots guides starts at around US$500.
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Register your trip
Upload copies of historical photos or documents to your device and have some current photos of your family available. Additionally, digitize movies, audios or videos that you would like to share using services like EverPresent, iMemories or Legacybox. These materials can help break the ice if you encounter a distant relative.
You can send photos, along with explanatory notes, of what you find on your journey directly to your online family tree if you use a genealogy app. Also, bring a notebook and tape to create a tangible souvenir.
Finally, consider recording your conversations with relatives you meet, but remember to ask permission as local laws may vary. You could be creating a valuable record for the next generation of genealogy travelers.
