VOLUNTEER TOURISM, ECONOMIC IMPACTS &
HOST COMMUNITIES: CAN WE DO BETTER?
Kristin M. Lamoureux, Ph.D.
The George Washington University
International Institute of Tourism Studies
[email protected]
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 Egypt
Local partnership
•Inbound tour operators & Non-governmental
organizations
•Build capacity
•Joint marketing and support
•Product Development
PHASING OF STRATEGY
Partnership between the Stakeholders
• Identify
Opportunities
Assessment
Capacity
Building
• Standards
• Skill
development
• Product
enhancement
Product
Development
Marketing
• Outreach to
markets
SAVE TOURISM
Scientific
Academic
Volunteer
Educational
• Researchers &
volunteers
participating in
field studies
• Students/teacher
s undertaking
travel for
academic credit
• Growing market
of
“Voluntourism”
• Travelers desiring
a hands-on
experiential
learning
experience
SAVE Alliance Activities
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.
Bulgaria: SAVE Center in collaboration with
municipality In Rodolpe Mtns
LAO PDR: Protected area
research & training center
Guatemala: Marketing &
communication strategy for Lake
Atlican
Panama: Rapid Assessment & market analysis of the
sustainable tourism potential for Soberinia National
Park and Panama City.
Northern Mozambique: Trip
circuits & management
information system.
Indonesia: Volunteer-based skills
transfer program
Southern Africa: African slave wrecks &
heritage route development
Honduras: SAVE strategy and product development
Ethiopia: community capacity building &
small business 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
Purpose
1. To facilitate the development of SAVE travel
products based on current and potential assets
2. To serve as a local cultural and crafts center
3. To service SAVE market groups and facilitate the
Packaging of relevant products
SAVE PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
Volunteer
Receiving
Organizations
S
A
V
E
Volunteer
Sending
Organizations
UGANDA– BEST PRACTICES
Volunteer
Support
Network
Local office
& staff
• Local leadership, knowledge, and expertise is
vital.
• Easily accessible and available for volunteers.
Small scale
• Partner with small number of thoroughly
vetted projects to ensure quality.
• Volunteer-receiving organizations have clearly
demonstrated need.
Positive
reputation
• Organization’s directors and staff have ties
with respected NGO’s.
• Directors are also recognized by the national
government.
Uganda
CONCLUSION & FUTURE POSSIBILITIES
Academic Research Needed
Alternative Models?
QUESTIONS???