Rethinking volunteer tourism : a community approach

Abstract

Set within the increasing popularity of global volunteer tourism, where one travels abroad to contribute positively to the wellbeing of its people and environment, this research aims to address the academic and practical concerns over the development of volunteer tourism with a case study of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. While the present literature largely studies volunteer tourism from the demand (volunteers) side, this empirical study seeks to explore volunteer tourism as a social phenomenon from the perspective of host communities. It delves deeply into well-established themes surrounding the concepts of ‘community attitudes’, ‘participation’, ‘wellbeing’ and ‘sustainability’ to offer a more nuanced understanding of the complexities of volunteer tourism at play. By adopting a community approach, this thesis presents ways to garner a better understanding of the realities of volunteer tourism and the means to giving voice not only to volunteers or stakeholders in power, but also to the local participants and residents who participate in the volunteer tourism landscape. On an academic level, this thesis contributes to ongoing debates on volunteer tourism and the importance of a sustainable community development within the broader social science context. By analyzing the complex and dynamic workings of volunteer tourism on the ground, this research offers important implications for governments, local and international NGOs to implement better volunteer tourism programmes that may genuinely benefit host communities in the long run.