Impacts of Volunteer Tourism on Host Communities - Essay Example

?Impacts of Volunteer Tourism on Host Communities Tourism as an industry witnessed greater achievements over the past few decades. Volunteer tourism or ‘voluntourism’ is the most remarkable and significant among all. Volunteer tourism has great influence on host communities. It can be well explained as an activity of travelling with the intension and motivation of rendering service or providing aid. Uriely has defined this volunteer tourism as a “real, ecological and responsible form of tourism” (as cited in Lyons & Wearing, p. 3). This activity is not merely carried out on individual risk but well substantiated by different organizations like NGO, charity oriented agencies, educational institutions and some religious groups. The impact of volunteer tourism on host communities is noticeable. Such activities are associated with many positive sides on the respected society. Volunteer tourism enriches the host community with the blessing and their dream of education. Secondly, economical stability is ensured as they undertake many programs to eradicate poverty. Thirdly, social understanding and mutual relationship with diverse nations are strengthened. Fourthly, many activities are organized to safeguard the environment and the nature. Finally, it raises the health standard of the host communities. On the flip side, numerous adverse effects follow this trend. First of all, problems arise due to the lack of sufficient information about a particular community. Moreover, profit driven organizations or at least a minority of such groups tend to have hidden agenda of their own economical wellbeing. Many volunteer tourists visit the host community merely for entertainment rather than serving the natives. Ultimately, social and cultural abomination is likely as the unique culture is forced to follow the other. Volunteer tourism primarily focuses on the different areas of development and upliftment of a particular community. These volunteer tourists are skilled in different levels of profession, contributing to the comprehensive development of the host community. Pursuing quality education is one of the most fundamental rights of every community. Volunteer tourism activities are often carried out by educational institutions. Focusing on the communities and their growth, many educational institutions and libraries are established. Understanding the significance of this initiatives Wearing (2001, p. 146) states that “local community and indigenous people” would have better access to education as many volunteer programs are introduced. The economical benefits enjoyed by the host community are not negligible. The volunteer tourism will result in a comprehensive development. Various training activities given will enhance the efficiency in employment. Moreover, many construction works such as houses, schools and industries are successfully carried out all which contribute to the economic benefits of the host communities. Evidently, maintaining a global social and mutual understanding is made possible as a result of volunteer tourism. This interaction results in keeping a good rapport with many societies and communities thereby easing tensions between them. Having such kind of mutual understanding and socialization alters the whole world into a global village. According to Niche Tourism, it is the groups which understand the diversity of its own culture and common roots enhance better understanding and appreciation (Novelli 2013, p. 225). Host community also gets adequate respect and recognition from the outside world. As result, good social understanding and harmony can be ensured. Furthermore, many awareness programs are conducted in the host community to protect the environment from all kinds of threats. In order to ensure healthy wellbeing many action are introduced and implemented by the groups in their volunteer vacations. They often keep real and advanced guidelines and instruction regarding the maintenance of the land and healthy atmosphere. Activities organized vary from one location to the other. Examples of these activities are observed in many locations namely Africa and Central and South America. Some of the activities carried out are scientific research on water and wildlife, and conservation projects. Health is the other sector where the volunteer tourism gives a greater importance. Considering health as a major requirement, many health centres, hospitals and health awareness classes and seminars are organized in the respected community. The host community is fortunate to have the service of skilled doctors and nurses. Examples for such charitable works are; doctor and nurses play a vital role ensuring a good health through proper medication and caring. Skilled laborers render their service in works like construction and maintenance of houses, schools and other buildings. Many precautionary measures are also taught to overcome many epidemic diseases. To support and ensure good health, many steps are undertaken. In this regard, some suggest that “health and safety procedures such as on-site first aid points, access to drinking water, sunscreen if working outside” (Holmes & Smith 2009, p.232). Although on the one side certain optimistic concepts and developments as discussed above are recognized, one should always understand and look at the darker side of the coin too. Initially, some of the volunteer tourism activities remain only for a short period. These short term activities do not give any opportunity to realize and understand the real situation and crisis encountered by the community. The unclear and improper understanding of the community and its demands can have a negative result. The ignorance regarding the community needs and community itself will definitely result in greater crisis at the end. Secondly, it is not true that all volunteer tourists hold the real spirit of serving the community. Today, only countable members are keeping such charity oriented activity in a real sense and considering it as meaningful life while majority seem to have hidden agenda of raising their own profit rather than uplifting the standard of the host community. Most of the volunteers are business minded and they hardly think about the real objective of the service rather than thinking about the tactics and techniques of maintaining their own wealth. The result is that the host community will witness hardship and poverty. Thirdly, self priority is the other major issue associated with the volunteer tourism. Prioritizing the individual comfort in any manner remains as a hurdle for the growth of the host community. Being young, many volunteers tend to give priorities to their own wishes and desires and avoid focusing on the real tasks. Therefore, they act upon the individual interest, may be entertainment and show no concern for the community. It is also significant that there are no direct authority to manage these volunteers as a result they tend to act upon their own interests and beliefs. Such careless and irresponsible acts and services cannot assist the community to maintain progress. Fourthly, many incidents of social and cultural abominations or offence are reported relating to volunteer tourism. For instance, in some cases the social practices are entirely different in different regions, and getting accustomed with a diverse practice seems to be difficult. Moreover some cultural differences also can adversely affect the host community as they loose their very identity. It is not just a matter of losing identity but may further cause conflicts between themselves and with outsider who came as a volunteer to render service. The very interaction and different social cultural practices or religious rituals may not be acceptable for a group. Thereby, different and unique social and cultural backgrounds can be a negative sign for the volunteer tourism, and sometimes for the host community itself. Ultimately, lack of proper training and knowledge regarding the task can hinder the progress rather accelerating it. Tracey J Dickson mentions some of the factors results in the negative developments are remarkable, they are namely, ‘unskilled and unmotivated volunteers, bad volunteer experience’ etc (as cited in Benson 2010, p. 182). Therefore, experience is also an important factor function in collaboration with the situation and real demands of the community. Such ignorant and disqualified faculties would never bring any benefits to the host community rather than inviting tragedies and further issues. Evidently, an experienced person can make a better contribution than the other having little knowledge regarding the activities. Hence, undertaking such projects with such fresh groups can have negative impact on the host community. In the conclusion, volunteer tourism remains as an exciting concept. A stable and strong economy can be formed by volunteer tourism. Laying foundation for the sustainable economy is ensured and realized from the mere presence and activities of volunteer tourists. A project focusing on certain backward community is a humanitarian aspect. Therefore, it is essential to realize and analyze the fact that volunteer tourism has great impact on the host community either in a positive or negative manner. But the real volunteer tourism is witnessed only with the flourishing of the host community. In real sense, volunteer tourism is a sort of charitable aid intends to help the needy. Therefore, a meaningful volunteer group proposes and executes the plans for the host community’s progress in every aspect. References Benson, A. M. 2010, Volunteer Tourism; Theoretical Frameworks and Practical Applications. Taylor & Francis. Holmes, K & smith, K. A. 2009, Managing volunteers in tourism attractions, destinations and events. Routledge. Lyons, K. D & Wearing, S. 2008, “Volunteer tourism as alternative tourism: Journies beyond otherness”. In Journeys of Discovery in Volunteer Tourism: International Case Study Perspectives. CABI. Novelli, M. (Ed.). 2013, Niche Tourism. Routledge. Wearing, S. 2001, Volunteer tourism-experiences that make a difference. CABI. Read More