Volunteer Tourism

Challenges and Opportunities; Attitudes and Perceptions

Thèse de Master , 2012 , 60 Pages , Note: 1,0

Sociologie - Travail, Education, Organisation

Since the 1970ies volunteer tourism has sparked academic as well as public interest and debate. This thesis consists of a concise analysis of current theories and research interests in this field. It points out challenges and opportunities of international volunteering, using a case study from South Africa, especially focusing on the area of research volunteering in a conservation context. The analysis of attitudes and perceptions of the volunteer as well as potential benefits the experience may have on their future life in general and career especially has been carried out by means of online survey. Further similarities and differences between ‘general’ volunteers and research volunteers have been established and analyzed, leading to the insight that altruism combined with the desire to travel and experience a different culture are central motivators to both groups and similar perceived benefits are attributed to volunteering. This study concludes that research volunteering can be especially beneficial to all parties involved if design and realization of the project are given great consideration and suggests further research into the complex task to develop mutually beneficial volunteering projects despite ongoing commodification of this area of sustainable tourism.

Inhalt

Abstract

Index of charts and maps

Introduction

Historical Background of Volunteer Tourism
1.2. Hotspots, product range and Agencies
1.2.1. Hotspots of Volunteer Tourism
1.2.2. Product Range of Volunteer Tourism
1.2.3. Agencies as actors in Volunteer Tourism
Literature Review - Current Research Foci in Volunteer Tourism
1.2.1 Disciplines engaging in volunteer tourism research
1.2.2 Introduction to literature and scope of this paper
1.2.3 Literature Review, Motivations to volunteer
1.2.4 Literature Review, Challenges and Limitations of Volunteer Tourism
1.2.5 Literature Review, positioning agencies within the volunteer tourism framework
1.2.6 Literature Review, scientific research volunteers
1.3. Summary of Literature Review and identification of gaps in research

2. Research Questions and interests
2.1 Introduction and Reasoning
2.2. Research Questions

3 Methods
3.1 On site research at Knysna Elephant Park
3.1.1 Study site
3.1.2 KEP Data collection Methods
3.2 AERU volunteer questionnaire
3.2.1 Design of the AERU volunteer questionnaire
3.2.2 Distribution of the AERU volunteer questionnaire
3.2.3 Evaluation of the AERU volunteer questionnaire
3.3 ‘General’ volunteer questionnaire
3.3.1 Defining the Sample Group
3.3.2 Designing of the ‘general’ volunteer tourist questionnaire
3.3.3 Distribution of the ‘general’ volunteer tourist questionnaire
3.3.4 Evaluation of the ‘general’ volunteer tourist questionnaire
3.4 Traditional tourism companies survey
3.4.1 Identifying the sample group
3.4.2 Designing the survey for traditional travel agencies
3.4.3 Interpretation of the survey

4. Results
4.1. Results Introduction
4.2. Knysna Elephant Park results
4.2.1. Results of the KEP volunteer questionnaire
4.2.2 Results of the ‘general’ volunteer survey in comparison to AERU results
4.2.3. Tourism Companies Survey

5. Discussion of the research findings

6. Conclusion

7. Bibliography

8. Appendixes
Appendix I) AERU Volunteer Questionaire
Appendix II) ‘General’ volunteer survey
Appendix III) Tourism Provider Survey
Appendix IV) Notes on some major volunteer tourism agencies contacted for ‘general’ volunteer survey

• Université: Technical University of Munich (Lehrstuhl für Forstwirtschaft und Ressourcenmanagement)
• Note: 1,0
• Auteur: Tabea Herbutt (Auteur)
• Année de publication: 2012
• Pages: 60
• N° de catalogue: V206370
• ISBN (ebook): 9783656344216
• ISBN (Livre): 9783656345046
• Langue: anglais
• mots-clé: Tourismus, Nachhaltigkeit, Sustainability, Volunteering, Freiwilligenarbeit, Afrika, Questionnaire