Going the distance

I've been with my bf for a year now ,he's 29 and I'm 22. The thing is we're in a long distance relationship and he's visited and we talk constantly but recently he's been saying the distance is proving a bit much for him and wonders how much longer we can keep this up. I've told him we could call it quits but he refuses and says he wants to be with me because I'm in his long-term plans but he can't figure out how we can get closer together, I'm 20 hours away and have a job in our native country and he has to work overseas to fend for his family (siblings and parents) so I'm wondering if its another way of telling me he wants me to move. In my culture it's taboo to move in with a guy you're not married to so I don't know if I should follow my heart and risk it all or protect my dignity.