Volunteer Tourism: Experiences that Make a Difference

Volunteer tourism describes a field of tourism in which travellers visit a destination and take part in projects in the local community. Projects are commonly nature-based, people-based or involve restoration of buildings and artefacts. Contemporary volunteer tourism has tended to suffer from a lack of differentiation from other forms of tourism or volunteering, falling into areas such as alternative tourism, international volunteering, social work and conservation corps work. The aim of this book is to provide it with a more specific identity. This book provides: An overview of the phenomenon of volunteer tourism, its sources and its development as a concept a focus on the potential positive social and environmental benefits of volunteer tourism, and the prerequisites for a successful experience.