Vol. 7 No. 1 and 2 (2024)
JOURNAL ON TOURISM & SUSTAINABILITY

Papers

Exploring the Dynamics of Voluntourism and Travel Philanthropy: A Critical Analysis

Published 2024-06-30

  • Dr (Chef) Subhadip Majumder
    • ,
  • Dr Sunil Khanal

Dr (Chef) Subhadip Majumder
Silver Mountain School of Hotel Management

Dr Sunil Khanal
Silver Mountain School of Hotel Management

Abstract

This study explores the concept of travel philanthropy and voluntourism, focusing specifically on the dynamics, effects, and ethical considerations related to both forms of tourism. This document examines the causes of these activities, their contribution to promoting sustainable tourism, and the possible negative effects they may have on the communities that host them. Furthermore, it underscores the need of fostering relationships with local stakeholders and ensuring that endeavours are in line with the needs of the community. In addition, the study addresses ethical concerns, including the potential for sustaining neocolonial mindsets and prioritising volunteers over long-term well-being. The research findings indicate that a sophisticated methodology that achieves a harmonious combination of positive influence, ethical engagement, and community empowerment is necessary in the realm of global travel and volunteers.

Keywords

Host Communities; Travel Philanthropy; Voluntourism; Ethics; Desire; Sustainability

Full Article

References

  1. A., Munar, A. M., & Adu-Ampong, e. A. (2023). Beyond The Smile: The Infrapolitics of The
  2. Host In Volunteer Tourism. Tourism Culture & Communication. https://doi.org/10.3727/109830423x16969739300593
  3. Benson, A. M. (2010). Volunteer Tourism. Routledge. Retrieved from
  4. http://books.google.ie/books?id=JrbHBQAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=Volunteer+Tourism&hl=&cd=4&source=gbs_api
  5. Benson, A. M. (2011). Volunteer Tourism. Taylor & Francis.
  6. Borland, K., & Adams, A. (2013). International Volunteer Tourism. Springer. Retrieved from
  7. http://books.google.ie/books?id=HTTtAwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=Volunteer+Tourism&hl=&cd=9&source=gbs_api
  8. Bristow, R. S. (2021). Exploring the Case Adventure Voluntourism: Help Manage Your Park.
  9. Tourism Cases. https://doi.org/10.1079/tourismetc.2021.0019
  10. Buckley, R. (2012, April 1). Sustainable tourism: Research and reality.
  11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2012.02.003
  12. Budeanu, A. A., Miller, G., Moscardo, G., & Ooi, C. S. (2016, January 1). Sustainable
  13. tourism, progress, challenges and opportunities: an introduction. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/312446410_Sustainable_tourism_progress_challenges_and_opportunities_an_introduction
  14. Burrai, E., Mostafanezhad, M., & Hannam, K. (2016). Moral assemblages of volunteer
  15. tourism development in Cusco, Peru. Tourism Geographies, 19(3), 362–377. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616688.2016.1236145
  16. Butcher, J., & Smith, P. (2015). Volunteer Tourism. Routledge. Retrieved from
  17. http://books.google.ie/books?id=ZVzLCQAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=Volunteer+Tourism&hl=&cd=6&source=gbs_api
  18. Butcher, J., & Smith, P. (2010). ‘Making a Difference’: Volunteer Tourism and Development.
  19. Tourism Recreation Research, 35(1), 27–36. https://doi.org/10.1080/02508281.2010.11081616
  20. Center for Responsible Travel | Transforming the Way the World Travels. (2023, December 22). Retrieved from https://www.responsibletravel.org
  21. Clarke, A. (2009). Journeys of Discovery in Volunteer Tourism. Annals of Tourism Research,
  22. (1), 159–160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2008.08.001
  23. Coghlan, A. (2015). Prosocial behaviour in volunteer tourism. Annals of Tourism Research,
  24. , 46–60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2015.08.002
  25. Connors, T. D. (2011). The Volunteer Management Handbook. John Wiley & Sons.
  26. Retrieved from http://books.google.ie/books?id=TXItDwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=978-981-11-7220-5&hl=&cd=1&source=gbs_api
  27. Correia, A., & Dolnicar, S. (2021, September 20). ROLE AND IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN
  28. Tourism – Contributions by Ulrike Gretzel. Retrieved from https://uq.pressbooks.pub/tourismknowledge/chapter/role-and-impact-of-social-media-in-tourism-contributions-by-ulrike-gretzel/
  29. Faganel, A., & Trnavcevic, A. (2012). Sustainable Natural and Cultural Heritage Tourism in
  30. Protected Areas. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2549615
  31. Gertner, R. K. (2019). The impact of cultural appropriation on destination image, tourism,
  32. and hospitality. Thunderbird International Business Review, 61(6), 873–877. https://doi.org/10.1002/tie.22068
  33. Gillett, G. (2016). The ethics of voluntourism. BMJ, h6135.
  34. https://doi.org/10.1136/sbmj.h6135
  35. Godfrey, J., Wearing, S., & Schulenkorf, N. (2014). Medical Volunteer Tourism as an
  36. Alternative to Backpacking in Peru. Tourism Planning & Development, 12(1), 111–122. https://doi.org/10.1080/21568316.2014.960602
  37. Google Scholar. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Brown,+L.,+%26+Morrison,+A.+M.+(2013).+Volunteer+tourism:+A+review.+Tourism+Management,+38,+120-130.&hl=en&as_sdt=0&as_vis=1&oi=scholart
  38. Hanson Pastran, S. (2014). Volunteer Tourism: A Postcolonial Approach. USURJ: University
  39. of Saskatchewan Undergraduate Research Journal, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.32396/usurj.v1i1.30
  40. Harrison, D. (1992). Tourism and the Less Developed Countries. Belhaven. Retrieved from
  41. http://books.google.ie/books?id=cGuZzQEACAAJ&dq=978-0-85199-704-9&hl=&cd=1&source=gbs_api
  42. Higham, J., & Lück, M. (2002). Urban Ecotourism: A Contradiction in Terms? Journal of
  43. Ecotourism, 1(1), 36–51. https://doi.org/10.1080/14724040208668111
  44. Holmes, K., Lockstone-Binney, L., Smith, K. A., & Shipway, R. (2021). The Routledge
  45. Handbook of Volunteering in Events, Sport and Tourism. Routledge. Retrieved from http://books.google.ie/books?id=v7BHEAAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=Volunteer+Tourism&hl=&cd=10&source=gbs_api
  46. Holmes, K., & Smith, K. (2012). Managing Volunteers in Tourism. Routledge. Retrieved from
  47. http://books.google.ie/books?id=R7YESV7GrZoC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Volunteer+Tourism&hl=&cd=5&source=gbs_api
  48. Jamal, T., & Stronza, A. (2009). Collaboration theory and tourism practice in protected
  49. areas: stakeholders, structuring and sustainability. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 17(2), 169–189. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669580802495741
  50. Jitendra Mohan Mishra Dean, D. C. S. M. S. H. (2023). A Comprehensive Analysis of
  51. Motivational Factors in Voluntourism. European Economic Letters (EEL), 13(5), 1118–1124. https://doi.org/10.52783/eel.v13i5.880BENALI,
  52. Khan, S. A., Khan, V., & Khan, M. A. (2023, June 10). Behavioural intention of tourists
  53. towards volunteer tourism: A developing country perspective. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8054815
  54. Ladkin, A., & Bertramini, A. M. (2002). Collaborative Tourism Planning: A Case Study of
  55. Cusco, Peru. Current Issues in Tourism, 5(2), 71–93. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500208667909
  56. Lee, H. Y., & Zhang, J. J. (2019). Rethinking sustainability in volunteer tourism. Current
  57. Issues in Tourism, 23(14), 1820–1832. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2019.1653267
  58. Lovelock, B., & Lovelock, K. (2013). The Ethics of Tourism. Routledge. Retrieved from
  59. http://books.google.ie/books?id=XJ88BjIeRH8C&pg=PA351&dq=the+ethics+of+tourism&hl=&cd=1&source=gbs_api
  60. Lyons, K. D., & Wearing, S. (2008). Journeys of Discovery in Volunteer Tourism. CABI.
  61. Retrieved from http://books.google.ie/books?id=V5Styu7eZUoC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Volunteer+tourism+as+alternative+tourism&hl=&cd=2&source=gbs_api
  62. M, A. H. (2018, July 30). Voluntourism: Sustainable Development, or Neocolonialism? Retrieved from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/voluntourism-sustainable-development-neocolonialism-alix-h-charles
  63. Magrizos, S., Kostopoulos, I., & Powers, L. (2020). Volunteer Tourism as a Transformative
  64. Experience: A Mixed Methods Empirical Study. Journal of Travel Research, 60(4), 878–895. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287520913630
  65. McCool, S. F., & Martin, S. R. (1994). Community Attachment and Attitudes Toward
  66. Tourism Development. Journal of Travel Research, 32(3), 29–34. https://doi.org/10.1177/004728759403200305
  67. McGehee, N. G., & Santos, C. A. (2005). Social change, discourse and volunteer tourism.
  68. Annals of Tourism Research, 32(3), 760–779. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2004.12.002
  69. Miller, M. (2015). Volunteer tourism: Popular humanitarianism in neoliberal times. Annals
  70. of Tourism Research, 54, 230–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2015.05.010
  71. Milne, S., Hermann, I., Hopkins, R., & Thorburn, E. (2018, May 1). Voluntourism Best
  72. Practices: Promoting Inclusive Community-Based Sustainable Tourism Initiatives (Final. . . Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326378138_Voluntourism_Best_Practices_Promoting_Inclusive_Community-Based_Sustainable_Tourism_Initiatives_Final_Report
  73. Mostafanezhad, M. (2013). THE POLITICS OF AESTHETICS IN VOLUNTEER TOURISM.
  74. Annals of Tourism Research, 43, 150–169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2013.05.002
  75. Nazneen, L., & Asghar, M. (2017). The Role of Locus of Control in Pro Environmental
  76. Attitude and Behavior of Youth. Peshawar Journal of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences (PJPBS), 2(2), 263–272. https://doi.org/10.32879/pjpbs.2016.2.2.263-272
  77. Novelli, M. (2015). Tourism and Development in Sub-Saharan Africa.
  78. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203069325
  79. Palacios, C. M. (2010). Volunteer tourism, development and education in a postcolonial
  80. world: conceiving global connections beyond aid. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 18(7), 861–878. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669581003782739
  81. Pompurová, K., Marčeková, R., Šebová, U., Sokolová, J., & Žofaj, M. (2018). Volunteer
  82. Tourism as a Sustainable Form of Tourism—The Case of Organized Events. Sustainability, 10(5), 1468. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10051468
  83. Rajesh, R. (2013). Impact of Tourist Perceptions, Destination Image and Tourist Satisfaction
  84. on Destination Loyalty: A Conceptual Model. PASOS. Revista De Turismo Y
  85. Patrimonio Cultural, 11(3), 67–78. https://doi.org/10.25145/j.pasos.2013.11.039
  86. Scarth, A., & Novelli, M. (2024). Travel philanthropy: A multifaceted ‘exchange economy.’
  87. Annals of Tourism Research, 106, 103750. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2024.103750
  88. Schluzy, K. (2011). Volunteer Tourism. Diplomarbeiten Agentur. Retrieved from
  89. http://books.google.ie/books?id=BVxiAQAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=Volunteer+tourism+as+alternative+tourism&hl=&cd=5&source=gbs_api
  90. Sharpley, R. (2014). Host perceptions of tourism: A review of the research. Tourism
  91. Management, 42, 37–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2013.10.007
  92. Tewari, V. (2011). Taking responsibility for tourism. Anatolia, 22(3), 433–435.
  93. https://doi.org/10.1080/13032917.2011.631418
  94. Tomazos, K. (2016). Dr. Volunteer and Mr. Tourist: Lifting the Guilt off Volunteer Tourism.
  95. Journal of Tourism & Hospitality, 05(06). https://doi.org/10.4172/2167-0269.1000258
  96. Tomazos, K. (2022). Angels of the night: exploring street-aid volunteer tourists and faith-
  97. based volunteer tourism. Tourism Recreation Research, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/02508281.2022.2089818
  98. Tourism and the less developed world: issues and case studies | CABI Books. (n.d.).
  99. Retrieved from https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/book/10.1079/9780851994338.0000
  100. Țuclea, C. E., Vrânceanu, D. M., & Năstase, C. E. (2020). The Role of Social Media in Health
  101. Safety Evaluation of a Tourism Destination throughout the Travel Planning Process. Sustainability, 12(16), 6661. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12166661
  102. Van Egmond, T., & Van Egmond, A. N. F. (2007). Understanding Western Tourists in
  103. Developing Countries. CABI. Retrieved from http://books.google.ie/books?id=4gL5-H8EI3kC&pg=PA191&dq=978-0-85199-830-5&hl=&cd=1&source=gbs_api
  104. Vasilyevna, G. E., Petrovna, O. N., & Viktorovna, O. I. (2018). Volunteer Tourism as A Factor
  105. of Sustainable Development. Asian Journal of Applied Sciences, 6(6). https://doi.org/10.24203/ajas.v6i6.5594
  106. Vrasti, W. (2013). Volunteer Tourism in the Global South. Routledge. Retrieved from
  107. http://books.google.ie/books?id=FgkCQE_9mFkC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Volunteer+Tourism&hl=&cd=8&source=gbs_api
  108. Wearing, S. L. (2003). Volunteer Tourism. Tourism Recreation Research, 28(3), 3–4.
  109. https://doi.org/10.1080/02508281.2003.11081411
  110. Wearing, S., & McGehee, N. G. (2013). Volunteer tourism: A review. Tourism Management,
  111. , 120–130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2013.03.002
  112. Weaver, D. (2015). Volunteer tourism and beyond: motivations and barriers to participation
  113. in protected area enhancement. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 23(5), 683–705. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2014.992901