Volunteer Tourism, Economic Impacts & Host Communities: Can we do better?

1. Volunteer Tourism, Economic Impacts & Host Communities: Can we do better? Kristin M. Lamoureux, Ph.D. The George Washington University International Institute of Tourism Studies klam@gwu.edu

2. General Statistics Tourism Overall • International Tourism Receipts - $909billion in 2010 (UNWTO, 2011) Adventure Tourism (includingVolunteer Tourism) Value of global adventuremarket - $89billion (ATTA, 2010)

3. 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)

4. 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)

5. 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)

6. 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

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

8. 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

9. 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.

10. Destination Models Egypt – Friends of Volunteer Tourism Egypt Honduras – SAVE Center Bulgaria – SAVE Travel Center in Smolyan Uganda – Volunteer Support Network

11. Egypt Friends of Volunteer Tourism Egypt Local partnership Inbound tour operators & Non-governmental organizations Build capacity Joint marketing and support Product Development

12. Phasing of StrategY Partnership between the Stakeholders

13. SAVE Tourism

14. SAVE Alliance Activities Northern Morocco: Tourism product development &SAVE market in rural communities Dominican Republic: Puerto Plata portal, community tourism enterprise development & visitor center design 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 Indonesia: Volunteer-based skills transfer program Northern Mozambique: Trip circuits & management information system. Southern Africa: African slave wrecks & heritage route development Panama: Rapid Assessment & market analysis of the sustainable tourism potential for Soberinia National Park and Panama City. Ethiopia: community capacity building & small business development Honduras: SAVE strategy and product development

15. SAVE Model

16. 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.

17. Save Center - Bulgaria Purpose To facilitate the development of SAVE travel products based on current and potential assets To serve as a local cultural and crafts center To service SAVE market groups and facilitate the Packaging of relevant products

18. SAVE Product Development SAVE

19. Uganda– Best Practices Volunteer Support Network Uganda

20. Conclusion & Future Possibilities Academic Research Needed Alternative Models?

21. Questions???