Resident perceptions on cross-cultural understanding as an outcome of volunteer tourism programs: the Bahamian Family Island perspective

ABSTRACT

This paper examines the perceptions toward volunteer tourism from the viewpoint of Bahamian Family Island residents with a specific focus on cross-cultural understanding as an outcome. Cross-cultural understanding reflects the idea that there is a greater opportunity for exchange between tourists and residents as a result of volunteer tourism. Utilizing social exchange theory (SET), this research examines whether residents’ perceived benefits, positive impacts, negative impacts and support for volunteer tourism activities predict their support for cross-cultural understanding. Additionally, this study reveals factors contributing to residents’ motivation to participate in volunteer tourism activities within their community. A mixed-method research design that employed face-to-face interviews and quantitative surveys revealed eight major themes: Community Involvement, Empowerment, Sustainability, Education, Dependency, Neglect of Community Needs, Community Involvement and Communication. Multiple regression analysis results suggest partial support for SET and reveal new predictions for the support for cross-cultural understanding. Implications for volunteer tourism programs, host communities and national tourism organizations are discussed. Future research evaluating the volunteer–host relationship is warranted.

KEYWORDS:

• Volunteer tourism
• cross-cultural understanding
• social exchange theory
• resident perceptions
• small islands

Acknowledgments

This research was partially supported by the South Eastern Travel and Tourism Research Association and the Malone Zalen Graduate Research Fellowship. We thank you for this support and could not have completed this project without your assistance. We would also like to thank the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism for working with us to gain access into the small island communities in which this research took place.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

South Eastern Travel & Tourism Research Association's Student Research Fellowship Award, Malone Zalen Graduate Research Fellowship Award.

Notes on contributors

Alana K. Dillette

Alana K. Dillette, PhD, is an assistant professor in the L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at San Diego State University. Originally from the Island Nation of the Bahamas, her research interests include various forms of tourism including small island sustainable tourism development, volunteer tourism and wellness tourism. In addition, Dr Dillette is also working on developing a research agenda focused on diversity and inclusion within the hospitality and tourism industry.

Alecia C. Douglas

Alecia C. Douglas, PhD, is an associate professor in Hotel and Restaurant Management at Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA. Her research interests focus on information technology applications for the hospitality and tourism industry, travel consumer behavior, and destination branding and marketing. She has numerous research manuscripts published in some of the top hospitality and tourism journals and refereed papers presented at national and international research conferences.

David S. Martin

David S. Martin, PhD, is currently an associate professor at Auburn University in the Hotel and Restaurant Management Program. An Alabama native, his research interests include various forms of tourism including sports tourism, medical tourism, sustainable tourism and rural tourism. Dr Martin has published across a wide variety of peer-reviewed journals and has made numerous presentations at both domestic and international conferences.

Martin O'Neill

Martin O'Neill, PhD, is the head of the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Hospitality Management at Auburn University. His primary research thrust relates to the concept of continuous quality improvement and its application within the broad services field encompassing both public and private sector organizations in the tourism, hospitality, and restaurant management fields. His research niche is in the area of disconfirmation modeling as a tool for garnering customer feedback and continual system improvement. Over recent years, he has ventured into the world of wine tourism and home brewing as a serious leisure pursuit.