Qué piensas? (what do you think?) Investigating the residens' attitude towards short-term volunteer tourism in Quito, Ecuador

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2017-10-30
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en
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Volunteer tourism is a specific form of community-based tourism which has developed in the tourism market the past two decades. Although contributing in a host community is one of the main aims of volunteer tourism, the tourism market and research mainly focuses on the demands and needs of the tourist, instead of the host community’s. Therefore it is considered necessary to investigate the attitude and perspectives of the host community towards volunteer tourism. A mixed method approach is taken, based on Social Exchange Theory, investigating to what extent host community members perceive personal benefits, positive impacts, negative impacts and support for volunteer tourism. The main results can be summarized in three main findings. First, a number of categories are found which are of importance for the host community members. Second, is found that the level of involvement in volunteer tourism indeed influences the residents’ attitude towards volunteer tourism. Ultimately contribute interviews to the definition of a number of concrete actions in order to improve practices around volunteer tourism. It’s hoped that this research will effect a social change in the future by giving voice to those who are often overlooked, but oh so central in this high-potential form of tourism.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen