International Volunteer Tourism Experience in South Africa: An Investigation Into the Impact on the Tourist

Abstract

This article explores the impact of volunteer tourism on the international tourist engaging in volunteer work in South Africa. A mixed method is adopted in this research. A quasi-experimental study is used to measure the impact of engaging in volunteer tourism, on volunteer's personality traits, using the standardized web-based IPIP-NEO personality inventory. A control group was used to enhance the validity of the scientific method. Thereafter, interviews were carried out on the participants to discover the causes, and the consequences, of their personality trait changes.

This study's findings point to significant changes in seven traits; some of these traits have not been previously identified by the literature and therefore broaden our understanding of the impact on the tourist. Additionally, while confirming some of the changes found in other studies, the findings of this study also point to some significant contrasts. Many of the changes identified were evident in the volunteer's daily lives through their “personal circumstances,” “behavior,” “emotions,” “confidence,” “values,” “knowledge or skills,” and “attitudes.” The experiences which the volunteers attributed to their changes were: active, involved, responsible, participatory, immersive, and interactive.

The findings address a number of shortcomings in the volunteer tourism literature by providing statistical evidence of change; a better understanding of how change appears in participants' everyday lives; and identifies the experiences responsible for transforming these volunteers, adding to knowledge of Engagement Theory. These findings can therefore contribute theoretically and practically to tourism marketing, program design and volunteer satisfaction.

Keywords:

• international volunteer tourism
• personality traits
• impact
• South Africa