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The Palgrave Handbook of Volunteering, Civic Participation, and Nonprofit Associations pp 275–289Cite as

Palgrave Macmillan

Volunteer Tourism and Travel Volunteering

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Abstract

This chapter explores the nature of volunteer tourism and travel volunteering as part of the larger section of this book on the purposive types of volunteers and volunteering. This new type of volunteering now constitutes a burgeoning segment of the alternative tourism industry that goes far beyond both the traditional notion of volunteering and traditional mass tourism. This chapter explores many key debates that underpin volunteer tourism, in particular the various issues and dimensions evident in various cultural contexts.We also provide an understanding of the reasons why some consumers use their tourism leisure time to volunteer. Our focus will be on international volunteer tourism, excluding domestic tourism volunteering.

Volunteer tourism (or voluntourism) is a relatively recent phenomenon, but despite this, it is one of the major growth areas in contemporary tourism. This demand has been met by a proliferation of organizations from the private, public, and nonprofit sectors offering a range of projects that can be pursued worldwide.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Australia

    Stephen L. Wearing

  2. UK

    Angela M. Benson

  3. USA

    Nancy McGehee

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  1. Stephen L. Wearing
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  2. Angela M. Benson
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  3. Nancy McGehee
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Wearing, S., Benson, A., McGehee, N. (2016). Volunteer Tourism and Travel Volunteering. In: The Palgrave Handbook of Volunteering, Civic Participation, and Nonprofit Associations. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-137-26317-9_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-137-26317-9_13

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-137-26316-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-137-26317-9

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

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