VOLUNTEER TOURISM, ECONOMIC IMPACTS & HOST COMMUNITIES: CAN WE DO BETTER?

Kristin M. Lamoureux, Ph.D.The George Washington University

International Institute of Tourism Studiesklam@gwu.edu

GENERAL STATISTICS

Tourism Overall• International Tourism Receipts - $909billion in

2010 (UNWTO, 2011)

Adventure Tourism (including Volunteer Tourism)• Value of global adventure market - $89billion (ATTA, 2010)

VOLUNTEER STATISTICS

•Global volunteering – increasing•US Volunteers in general = $169M in 2009 (Independent Sector, 2011)•US Volunteers Abroad = $2.92billion in 2005 (Lough, McBride & Sherradan, 2007)•US National Parks: Mt. Rainer NP – Volunteers contributed $1.36M in 2007-08 to NPS’ operations in Mt. Rainer (Holmes & Smith)

VOLUNTEER TOURISM NEEDS

Volunteer Tourism Differ…• Clarity – volunteer tourists want to see where their money is going and how it is really helping the community (Michel & Mille, 2010)

• Interaction – want a closer, more meaningful interaction with host communities (ATTA, 2010)

WHY IS THIS TYPE OF TOURISM ATTRACTIVE TO A DESTINATION?

• Represents a potentially important market segment for emerging destinations

• Visitors contribute directly to the destination• Generally do not need well developed infrastructure• Pay for their experience• Beyond their work/research, also spend time

traveling• Provide very valuable word-of-mouth exposure• Use on-line social networks extensively• Skilled volunteers or non-volunteers provide services

not available (ex. Doctors, architects, scientists)

TOURISM IMPACTS – ON THE GROUND

Research on spending – scarce

•Volunteer Tourists may “spend less money than other tourists and have a smaller impact” Gray & Campbell, 2007

WHAT IS ECONOMIC IMPACT TO DESTINATIONS?

•Not easy to quantify•Who is “the community”?•Equal distribution versus select partnerships•Can we really “involve” them?•Few good examples - HFH

EX. HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

Habitat for Humanity’s Economic Impact in South Dakota• 2009 – HFH built 326 homes in South Dakota.• Homes valued at $35 million.• Habitat affiliates purchased over $23M in goods & services to complete the construction of these homes.• Direct Impact to SD economy over $150.8 million.• Volunteer investment in local communities per year is over $1.6K.• HFH Homeowners paid over $466,000 in property taxes.http://habitatsouthdakota.org/about_us/news.php?ID=37

TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

Developing Countries: small businesses in most developing nations have a number of constraints which keep them from being able to fully access lucrative domestic and international tourism markets. Supported tourism can assist.

Tourism Arrivals/Spending• Opportunities for economic

growth• Cultural Exchange• Investment

Small Business Development• Lack access to tourism markets• Need training/capacity building

DESTINATION MODELS

•Egypt – Friends of Volunteer Tourism Egypt•Honduras – SAVE Center• Bulgaria – SAVE Travel Center in Smolyan•Uganda – Volunteer Support Network

EGYPT

Friends of Volunteer Tourism EgyptLocal partnership•Inbound tour operators & Non-governmental organizations•Build capacity•Joint marketing and support•Product Development

PHASING OF STRATEGY

• Identify Opportunities

Assessment

• Standards• Skill

development

Capacity Building • Product

enhancement

Product Development

• Outreach to markets

Marketing

Partnership between the Stakeholders

SAVE TOURISM

Scientific • Researchers &

volunteers participating in field studies

Academic• Students/

teachers undertaking travel for academic credit

Volunteer• Growing market

of “Voluntourism”

Educational • Travelers

desiring a hands-on experiential learning experience

Dominican Republic: Puerto Plata portal, community tourism enterprise development & visitor center design

Northern Morocco: Tourism product development &SAVE market in rural communities

Montenegro: : Sustainable tourism development : Durmitor World Heritage Site.

Panama: Rapid Assessment & market analysis of the sustainable tourism potential for Soberinia National Park and Panama City.

Guatemala: Marketing & communication strategy for Lake Atlican

Honduras: SAVE strategy and product development

Northern Mozambique: Trip circuits & management information system.

Ethiopia: community capacity building & small business development

Indonesia: Volunteer-based skills transfer program

LAO PDR: Protected area research & training center

Bulgaria: SAVE Center in collaboration with municipality In Rodolpe Mtns

SAVE Alliance Activities

Southern Africa: African slave wrecks & heritage route development

SAVE MODEL

Preliminary identification of potential destinations and assessment of their assets, needs, level of readiness

Education, capacity building and specialized training targeting specific stakeholders as well as the local community –Volunteer Sending Organizations (VSOs)Identification of appropriate intermediaries and organization of familiarization trips and assessment activities—Volunteer Receiving Organizations (VROs)

Establishment of a SAVE Network & Center to coordinate all SAVE travel-related activities at selected destinations.

SAVE TRAVEL CENTER - BULGARIA

The vision for the SAVE Center is that it will be a leading force for the economic growth of the region through sustainable travel, a contributor to the diversification of the country’s travel portfolio and image, and a model for SAVE centers around the world.

SAVE CENTER - BULGARIA

Purpose1. To facilitate the development of SAVE travel

products based on current and potential assets 2. To serve as a local cultural and crafts center3. To service SAVE market groups and facilitate the

Packaging of relevant products

SAVE PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

Volunteer Receiving

Organizations

Volunteer Sending

OrganizationsSAV

E

UGANDA– BEST PRACTICESVolunteerSupportNetwork

Uganda

•Local leadership, knowledge, and expertise is vital.

•Easily accessible and available for volunteers.Local office & staff

•Partner with small number of thoroughly vetted projects to ensure quality.

•Volunteer-receiving organizations have clearly demonstrated need.

Small scale

•Organization’s directors and staff have ties with respected NGO’s.

•Directors are also recognized by the national government.

Positive reputation

CONCLUSION & FUTURE POSSIBILITIES

Academic Research Needed

Alternative Models?

QUESTIONS???