A Compareritive Analysis of Volunteer Tourism in Vietnam and Thailand
Patcharin Sirasoonthorn and Nathalie Coren
A Comparative Analysis of Volunteer Tourism in Two Conservation Areas in Thailand and Vietnam1
Patcharin Sirasoonthorn2 and Nathalie Coren3
Abstract
Due to a variety of cultural backgrounds such as nationality, sex, ages and religious belief, motivation and expectations of volunteer tourism differ. This article highlights the significance of both external and internal factors which influence volunteer tourists in two conservation areas, Koh Tao in Mae Haad, Thailand and Xuan Thuy national Park in Vietnam. Data were collected for 12 weeks in each target area. A model of comparative study was applied to compare and contrast the behavior, motivation and expectation of volunteer tourists. Key words: volunteer tourism, motivation, expectation, conservation
Introduction
Tourism is a global activity. It is one of the most popular interests of sociologists (Cohen and Taylor 1976, Goffman 1974). In social aspects, holidays not only free individuals from their everyday life, but also provide mental and physical development. Holidays can offer cultivation of human identity, self consciousness, and enhancement of well-being. Yet historically, tourism has served only tourists’ pleasure. After decades of mainstreaming tourism, a variety of organizations have started to realize that this form of tourism caters more to an individual’s benefit rather than to the society. This has led to a new form of tourism called alternative tourism. Volunteer tourism is known as alternative tourism. It is getting popular in developing countries such as Thailand and Vietnam. The term refers to those tourists who, for various reasons, volunteer in an organized way to undertake holidays that might involve aiding or alleviating the material poverty of some group in society. International organizations well-known for volunteer tourism include Youth Challenge International, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and Earth Watch. These organizations
A Comparative Analysis of Volunteer Tourism in Two Conservation Areas in Thailand and Vietnam1
Patcharin Sirasoonthorn2 and Nathalie Coren3
Abstract
Due to a variety of cultural backgrounds such as nationality, sex, ages and religious belief, motivation and expectations of volunteer tourism differ. This article highlights the significance of both external and internal factors which influence volunteer tourists in two conservation areas, Koh Tao in Mae Haad, Thailand and Xuan Thuy national Park in Vietnam. Data were collected for 12 weeks in each target area. A model of comparative study was applied to compare and contrast the behavior, motivation and expectation of volunteer tourists. Key words: volunteer tourism, motivation, expectation, conservation
Introduction
Tourism is a global activity. It is one of the most popular interests of sociologists (Cohen and Taylor 1976, Goffman 1974). In social aspects, holidays not only free individuals from their everyday life, but also provide mental and physical development. Holidays can offer cultivation of human identity, self consciousness, and enhancement of well-being. Yet historically, tourism has served only tourists’ pleasure. After decades of mainstreaming tourism, a variety of organizations have started to realize that this form of tourism caters more to an individual’s benefit rather than to the society. This has led to a new form of tourism called alternative tourism. Volunteer tourism is known as alternative tourism. It is getting popular in developing countries such as Thailand and Vietnam. The term refers to those tourists who, for various reasons, volunteer in an organized way to undertake holidays that might involve aiding or alleviating the material poverty of some group in society. International organizations well-known for volunteer tourism include Youth Challenge International, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and Earth Watch. These organizations