Volunteer tourism fields: spaces of altruism and unsustainability

Thompson, Jamie

Abstract

Drawing upon research from six volunteer projects in Cambodia, this paper explores the volunteer host community as a ‘space’ that has its own rules and normalized ways of behaving that influences the assistance prospective beneficiaries receive. Underpinned by Bourdieu’s theory of field’s, qualitative interviews and participant observation is conducted with both volunteers and hosts. This paper concludes that volunteer project rules are not homogeneous and that normalized ways of behaving can lead to unregulated and unsustainable practice but also integrated and productive outcomes. This suggests a more regulative and structured approach to volunteer tourism led by media and volunteers themselves may enhance the sustainable foundation of the sector.

Citation

Thompson, J. (2022). Volunteer tourism fields: spaces of altruism and unsustainability. Current Issues in Tourism, 25(5), 779-791. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2021.1887824

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 3, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Feb 18, 2021
• Publication Date: 2022
• Deposit Date: Feb 23, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 23, 2021
• Journal: Current Issues in Tourism
• Print ISSN: 1368-3500
• Electronic ISSN: 1747-7603
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 25
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 779-791
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2021.1887824
• Keywords: Volunteer tourism, Bourdieu, Fields, Cambodia, Host communities
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2745633