IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/sagope/v14y2024i2p21582440241260924.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Volunteer Tourism: A Systematic Literature Review

Author

Listed:
  • Beatrice Avolio
  • Ma. Belén Prados-Peña
  • Eduardo Pardo

Abstract

In recent years, volunteer tourism has flourished as an alternative to traditional tourism aimed at fostering reciprocity between participants and the host community. Although this led to an increasing interest among scholars, little attention has been given on identifying the current state of knowledge on volunteer tourism. This systematic literature review is designed to evaluate the academic literature on volunteer tourism in terms of the research methodology, population, geographical location, theoretical framework, and research topics. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology, this paper covers 184 articles published in Web of Science database from January 2010 to December 2021. Findings reveal that most of the research on volunteer tourism have been conducted from a qualitative approach taking volunteer tourists as study sample. Results show that previous literature on volunteer tourism have been focused on the following perspectives: studies focused on the experience of key stakeholders, studies aimed at understanding the volunteer tourism industry, studies on volunteer tourism as it relates to sustainable development, and studies focused on volunteer tourism and global citizenship. The analysis of current state of knowledge about volunteer tourism also suggests several directions for further research in this domain.

Suggested Citation

  • Beatrice Avolio & Ma. Belén Prados-Peña & Eduardo Pardo, 2024. "Volunteer Tourism: A Systematic Literature Review," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(2), pages 21582440241, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:sagope:v:14:y:2024:i:2:p:21582440241260924
    DOI: 10.1177/21582440241260924
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/21582440241260924
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1177/21582440241260924?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Li-Ju Chen, 2016. "Intercultural interactions among different roles: a case study of an international volunteer tourism project in Shaanxi, China," Current Issues in Tourism, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(5), pages 458-476, April.
    2. Mary Mostafanezhad, 2014. "Locating the tourist in volunteer tourism," Current Issues in Tourism, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 17(4), pages 381-384, April.
    3. Wearing, Stephen & McGehee, Nancy Gard, 2013. "Volunteer tourism: A review," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 120-130.
    4. Kyle M. Woosnam & Marianna Strzelecka & Gwendelyn S. Nisbett & Samuel J. Keith, 2019. "Examining Millennials’ Global Citizenship Attitudes and Behavioral Intentions to Engage in Environmental Volunteering," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-18, April.
    5. Heloise Michelle Nunes Medeiros & Quêzia Leandro de Moura Guerreiro & Thiago Almeida Vieira & Sandra Maria Sousa da Silva & Ana Isabel da Silva Aço Renda & José Max Barbosa Oliveira-Junior, 2021. "Alternative Tourism and Environmental Impacts: Perception of Residents of an Extractive Reserve in the Brazilian Amazonia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-29, February.
    6. Barbara Vodopivec & Rivke Jaffe, 2011. "Save the World in a Week: Volunteer Tourism, Development and Difference," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 23(1), pages 111-128, February.
    7. Kristína Pompurová & Radka Marčeková & Ľubica Šebová & Jana Sokolová & Matej Žofaj, 2018. "Volunteer Tourism as a Sustainable Form of Tourism—The Case of Organized Events," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-12, May.
    8. Frazer, Ryan & Waitt, Gordon, 2016. "Pain, politics and volunteering in tourism studies," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 176-189.
    9. Vasco Santos & Maria José Sousa & Carlos Costa & Manuel Au-Yong-Oliveira, 2021. "Tourism towards Sustainability and Innovation: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-20, October.
    10. Mary Mostafanezhad, 2013. "‘Getting in Touch with your Inner Angelina’: celebrity humanitarianism and the cultural politics of gendered generosity in volunteer tourism," Third World Quarterly, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(3), pages 485-499.
    11. Terry, William, 2014. "Solving labor problems and building capacity in sustainable agriculture through volunteer tourism," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 94-107.
    12. Steven Jackson, 2016. "Prediction, explanation and big(ger) data: a middle way to measuring and modelling the perceived success of a volunteer tourism sustainability campaign based on ‘nudging’," Current Issues in Tourism, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(7), pages 643-658, June.
    13. Vladimir Matyushok & Vera Krasavina & Andrey Berezin & Javier Sendra García, 2021. "The global economy in technological transformation conditions: A review of modern trends," Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(1), pages 1471-1497, January.
    14. Zain ul Abedin Janjua & Gengeswari Krishnapillai & Mobashar Rahman, 2021. "A Systematic Literature Review of Rural Homestays and Sustainability in Tourism," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(2), pages 21582440211, April.
    15. Bertine Bargeman & Greg Richards & Ellen Govers, 2018. "Volunteer tourism impacts in Ghana: a practice approach," Current Issues in Tourism, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(13), pages 1486-1501, September.
    16. Abdul Hafaz Ngah & Abdul Halim Mohd Rahimi & Serge Gabarre & Luis Araya-Castillo & Antonio Ariza-Montes & Heesup Han, 2021. "Fostering Voluntourism Satisfaction and Future Behaviour in Island Destinations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-17, March.
    17. Thompson, Jamie & Taheri, Babak, 2020. "Capital deployment and exchange in volunteer tourism," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    18. Heesup Han & Soyeun Lee & Bo Meng & Bee-Lia Chua & Hyungseo Bobby Ryu, 2020. "The Relative Importance of Volunteer Tourism (Sustainable/Pro-Social Form of Tourism) Motivation Factors for Young Tourists: A Descriptive Analysis by Continents, Gender, and Frequency," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-21, May.
    19. Barbieri, Carla & Santos, Carla Almeida & Katsube, Yasuharu, 2012. "Volunteer tourism: On-the-ground observations from Rwanda," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 33(3), pages 509-516.
    20. H. Y. Lee & J. J. Zhang, 2020. "Rethinking sustainability in volunteer tourism," Current Issues in Tourism, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(14), pages 1820-1832, July.
    21. Dirk-Jan Koch & Jolynde Vis & Maria van der Harst & Elric Tendron & Joost de Laat, 2021. "Assessing International Development Cooperation: Becoming Intentional about Unintended Effects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-26, October.
    22. Heesup Han & Antonio Ariza-Montes & Pilar Tirado-Valencia & Soyeun Lee, 2020. "Volunteering Attitude, Mental Well-Being, and Loyalty for the Non-Profit Religious Organization of Volunteer Tourism," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-16, June.
    23. Chiara Gius, 2017. "Facing the pain of others: perspectives on international volunteer tourism between agency and spectatorship," Current Issues in Tourism, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(15), pages 1620-1632, November.
    24. Prince, Solène & Ioannides, Dimitri, 2017. "Contextualizing the complexities of managing alternative tourism at the community-level: A case study of a nordic eco-village," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 348-356.
    25. Kristal An Agrupis & Michelle Ylade & Josephine Aldaba & Anna Lena Lopez & Jacqueline Deen, 2019. "Trends in dengue research in the Philippines: A systematic review," PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(4), pages 1-18, April.
    26. Anna Karin Olsson & Anette Therkelsen & Lena Mossberg, 2016. "Making an effort for free – volunteers' roles in destination-based storytelling," Current Issues in Tourism, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(7), pages 659-679, June.
    27. Edward T. Chiyaka & Van T. Nghiem & Lu Zhang & Abhishek Deshpande & Patricia Dolan Mullen & Phuc Le, 2019. "Cost-Effectiveness of Herpes Zoster Vaccination: A Systematic Review," PharmacoEconomics, Springer, vol. 37(2), pages 169-200, February.
    28. Heesup Han & Soyeun Lee & Sunghyup Sean Hyun, 2020. "Tourism and Altruistic Intention: Volunteer Tourism Development and Self-Interested Value," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-14, March.
    29. Christopher Lupoli & Wayde Morse, 2015. "Assessing the Local Impacts of Volunteer Tourism: Comparing Two Unique Approaches to Indicator Development," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 120(2), pages 577-600, January.
    30. Coghlan, Alexandra, 2015. "Prosocial behaviour in volunteer tourism," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 46-60.
    31. Heesup Han & Bo Meng & Bee-Lia Chua & Hyungseo Bobby Ryu, 2020. "Hedonic and Utilitarian Performances as Determinants of Mental Health and Pro-Social Behaviors among Volunteer Tourists," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-14, September.
    32. Pierre G. Walter, 2016. "Catalysts for transformative learning in community-based ecotourism," Current Issues in Tourism, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(13), pages 1356-1371, November.
    33. Susan Banki & Richard Schonell, 2018. "Voluntourism and the contract corrective," Third World Quarterly, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 39(8), pages 1475-1490, August.
    34. Lo, Ada S. & Lee, Candy Y.S., 2011. "Motivations and perceived value of volunteer tourists from Hong Kong," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 32(2), pages 326-334.
    35. Zhiquan Yeo & Donato Masi & Jonathan Sze Choong Low & Yen Ting Ng & Puay Siew Tan & Stuart Barnes, 2019. "Tools for promoting industrial symbiosis: A systematic review," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 23(5), pages 1087-1108, October.
    36. Wearing, Stephen & Beirman, David & Grabowski, Simone, 2020. "Engaging volunteer tourism in post-disaster recovery in Nepal," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    37. Alexandra Coghlan & Betty Weiler, 2018. "Examining transformative processes in volunteer tourism," Current Issues in Tourism, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(5), pages 567-582, March.
    38. Chen, Li-Ju & Chen, Joseph S., 2011. "The motivations and expectations of international volunteer tourists: A case study of “Chinese Village Traditions”," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 32(2), pages 435-442.
    39. Carpenter, Kathie, 2015. "Childhood studies and orphanage tourism in Cambodia," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 15-27.
    40. Miho Fukui & Yasuo Ohe, 2020. "Assessing the role of social media in tourism recovery in tsunami-hit coastal areas in Tohoku, Japan," Tourism Economics, , vol. 26(5), pages 776-791, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Thompson, Jamie & Taheri, Babak, 2020. "Capital deployment and exchange in volunteer tourism," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    2. José Abreu & Marisa R. Ferreira & Beatriz Casais, 2021. "Empowering the Community or Escape Daily Routine—A Voluntourism Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-14, October.
    3. Heesup Han & Soyeun Lee & Bo Meng & Bee-Lia Chua & Hyungseo Bobby Ryu, 2020. "The Relative Importance of Volunteer Tourism (Sustainable/Pro-Social Form of Tourism) Motivation Factors for Young Tourists: A Descriptive Analysis by Continents, Gender, and Frequency," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-21, May.
    4. Zain ul Abedin Janjua & Gengeswari Krishnapillai & Mobashar Rahman, 2021. "A Systematic Literature Review of Rural Homestays and Sustainability in Tourism," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(2), pages 21582440211, April.
    5. Heesup Han & Antonio Ariza-Montes & Pilar Tirado-Valencia & Soyeun Lee, 2020. "Volunteering Attitude, Mental Well-Being, and Loyalty for the Non-Profit Religious Organization of Volunteer Tourism," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-16, June.
    6. Quoc Hoang Thai & Khuong Ngoc Mai, 2024. "Entrepreneurial traits: a systematic literature review," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 74(4), pages 2717-2785, December.
    7. Salesi, Vinolia Kilinaivoni & Kan Tsui, Wai Hong & Fu, Xiaowen & Gilbey, Andrew, 2022. "Strategies for South Pacific Region to address future pandemics: Implications for the aviation and tourism sectors based on a systematic literature review (2010–2021)," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 107-126.
    8. Yoo Ri Kim & Anyu Liu & Allan M Williams, 2022. "Competitiveness in the visitor economy: A systematic literature review," Tourism Economics, , vol. 28(3), pages 817-842, May.
    9. Zakaria Elkhwesky & Islam Elbayoumi Salem & Michal Varmus & Haywantee Ramkissoon, 2022. "Sustainable practices in hospitality pre and amid COVID‐19 pandemic: Looking back for moving forward post‐COVID‐19," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(5), pages 1426-1448, October.
    10. Quoc Hoang Thai & Khuong Ngoc Mai & Tung Thanh Do, 2023. "An Evolution of Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Studies: A Systematic Literature Review and Future Research Agenda," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(1), pages 21582440231, March.
    11. Arun Madanaguli & Shalini Srivastava & Alberto Ferraris & Amandeep Dhir, 2022. "Corporate social responsibility and sustainability in the tourism sector: A systematic literature review and future outlook," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(3), pages 447-461, June.
    12. Kristína Pompurová & Kristína Pompurová & Jana Sokolová & David Austin Cole & Radka Marčeková & Radoslav Kožiak, 2020. "Are visitors interested in volunteer tourism? Evidence from Slovakia," Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues, VsI Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Center, vol. 7(4), pages 3339-3353, June.
    13. Wearing, Stephen & McGehee, Nancy Gard, 2013. "Volunteer tourism: A review," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 120-130.
    14. Christou, P. & Hadjielias, E. & Farmaki, A., 2019. "Reconnaissance of philanthropy," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 1-1.
    15. Judit Sulyok & Beáta Fehérvölgyi & Tibor Csizmadia & Attila I. Katona & Zsolt T. Kosztyán, 2023. "Does geography matter? Implications for future tourism research in light of COVID-19," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 128(3), pages 1601-1637, March.
    16. García-Lillo, Francisco & Seva-Larrosa, Pedro & Sánchez-García, Eduardo, 2024. "On the basis of research on ‘green’ in the disciplines of management and business," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    17. Arun T. M. & Puneet Kaur & Alberto Ferraris & Amandeep Dhir, 2021. "What motivates the adoption of green restaurant products and services? A systematic review and future research agenda," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(4), pages 2224-2240, May.
    18. Elena Pessot & Daniele Spoladore & Andrea Zangiacomi & Marco Sacco, 2021. "Natural Resources in Health Tourism: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-17, March.
    19. Kaur, Puneet & Talwar, Shalini & Madanaguli, Arun & Srivastava, Shalini & Dhir, Amandeep, 2022. "Corporate social responsibility (CSR) and hospitality sector: Charting new frontiers for restaurant businesses," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 1234-1248.
    20. Omar H. Fares & Irfan Butt & Seung Hwan Mark Lee, 2023. "Utilization of artificial intelligence in the banking sector: a systematic literature review," Journal of Financial Services Marketing, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 28(4), pages 835-852, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:sae:sagope:v:14:y:2024:i:2:p:21582440241260924. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.