Voluntourism placements: Voluntourists’ experiences and learning potential

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper aims to contribute to the broader understanding of voluntourists’ impressions with voluntourism and how their experiences evolve throughout the volunteering process (pre-, peri-, and post-trip stages). Interviews of Belgian and Dutch voluntourists (n = 21) were analysed thematically, focusing on their overall experiences by questioning success factors, obstacles, and stakeholders’ roles. Results show that providing organisations, host countries/cultures/residents, and other volunteers/tourists functioned in triangular relationships that influence voluntourists’ intercultural and transformative learning processes. This study concludes that when the stakeholders recognise their roles and see participants’ learning as a goal, voluntourism may enhance the interests of its customers (volunteers and host countries), thus making it a genuine learning opportunity.