Michael Pearlman

An examination of not-for-profit volunteer tourism sending organisations' guiding considerations that influence volunteer tourism programmes

This exploratory study examines the guiding considerations which not-for-profit volunteer tourism sending organisations utilise in designing and implementing volunteer tourism programmes. These considerations encompass overarching factors which affect the strategic and operational direction which those sending organisations take, influencing their choice of activities and providing the framework for their programmes. The study explores the vision and mission statements of not-for-profit sending organisations along with their programme principles so as to reveal the guiding considerations which underpin the implementation of volunteer tourism programmes. Eleven guiding considerations were determined, with the five most frequently occurring listed in rank order as: Interaction, Needs of Host Community, Participant-Focused Benefits, Host Community–Focused Participation and Quality of Life. The fact that three guiding considerations focused heavily on the impact on, and needs and involvement of, the host community, is a promising indication that not-for-profit sending organisations place strong emphasis on a host-community-led strategy that keeps their programmes relevant to key beneficiaries. The needs of the participants are not neglected, however, with participant-focused benefits, such as the learning and adventure components of trips, being a prominent guiding consideration to emerge from the analysis. Lastly, bringing mutual benefits and positive interaction between host communities and volunteer tourists is also a key focus of these organisations. This research contributes to the limited literature on volunteer tourism sending organisations and offers an initial insight into the motivations and criteria that mould programmes from the perspective of these organisations.

An Attribute-Based Approach to Classifying Community-Based Tourism Networks

This conceptual paper proposes the adoption of a collaborative network approach as a prospective means of improving success in implementing community-based tourism (CBT) initiatives. Drawing upon relevant literature, the researchers identify the key attributes that characterise a network-based approach. By proposing alternatives for each attribute, the research provides CBT practitioners with options for making informed decisions about how to build collaboration connecting individual CBT initiatives in multiple locations. The researchers discuss the implications of different approaches for power relations between stakeholders. The proposed framework provides a means of classifying existing CBT networks and analyses the types of network and the circumstances which lead to better outcomes for community development. Further empirical research is required to test the validity of the key network attributes and to develop a comprehensive classification system of CBT networks.

Key Implementation Factors in Pro-poor Tourism

Abstract Tourism has become an important economic activity in many developing and least developed countries. However, projects which have an explicit focus on the alleviation of poverty through tourism (commonly referred to as Pro-poor Tourism (PPT)) are relatively recent. Given the brief history of PPT, research which explains the processes associated with PPT projects is required. This study considers PPT from a project management perspective and identifies the key factors involved in implementing PPT through an analysis of tourism development generally and the PPT literature in particular and tests their relevance and importance using mixed methods research. The factors have been categorized into three groups, based on an analysis of the relevant responses: external factors, higher order internal factors, and lower order internal factors. Several areas were identified as being important for the successful implementation and development of PPT: communication between stakeholders, a market approach, financial support, political, socio-economic and cultural environment and organizational structure. Considering these factors during the early stages of planning will assist with effective project implementation. Several areas were identified for further research: development of a model of successful PPT projects, connecting PPT projects to markets, and the monitoring and evaluation of PPT projects.

Virtuous volunteer tourism: Towards a uniform code of conduct

Abstract The expanding body of research on volunteer tourism has generally assessed the merits of these programmes in positive terms, although it has also identified some negative impacts on host communities. In this paper it is proposed that a set of industry-wide guidelines could inform the largely unregulated volunteer tourism market and help it to achieve the right balance between encouraging positive impacts and minimizing negative side effects. A qualitative analysis was conducted of the guiding principles for 12 not-for-profit sending organizations with a view to identifying emergent themes. Ranked from most to least frequent, the themes emanating from the data were: local needs; participant-focused; consideration towards continuity; community; issues; interaction; and organizational goals. The seven themes were then compared with the international standards that have been developed to guide the parent fields of volunteerism and tourism. It was found that six recurring themes could be readily matched against four categories of the Universal Declaration of Volunteering, and against six of the United Nations World Tourism Organizations Global Code of Ethics for Tourism. The findings suggest that the principles applied by sending organizations to their volunteer tourism programmes generally align with the best practice standards prevailing in the broader volunteering and tourism sectors. The paper concludes by proposing an agenda for future research relating to global guidelines for volunteer tourism.

The Application of Environmental Governance Networks in Small Island Destinations: Evidence from Indonesia and the Coral Triangle

The natural environment plays a major role in determining destination attractiveness in many small island destinations. This is particularly the case in settings which are characterised by limited natural resources and environmental carrying capacity. Some small island destinations in developing countries have adopted environmental governance networks as a means of advancing environmental protection. However, little is known about how such networks operate. Drawing upon two Indonesian examples within the area known as the “Coral Triangle”, this paper explains how environmental governance networks operate in the context of marine-based tourism in small island settings within developing countries. The analysis is approached in three stages: firstly, by reviewing the literature relevant to environmental governance networks, and by proposing an applicable analytical framework. Secondly, two collaborative governance network case studies are examined. Thirdly, a revised conceptual framework is proposed to explain the operations, characteristics and effectiveness of environmental governance networks in the two case study settings. The frameworks from this paper can serve as a basis for further research into the operation of other environmental governance networks.

A conceptual framework for environmental governance networks: An analysis of small island destinations in Indonesia and the Coral Triangle

The natural environment plays a major role in determining destination attractiveness in many small island destinations. This is particularly the case in settings which are characterised by limited natural resources and environmental carrying capacity. Some small island destinations in developing countries have adopted collaborative environmental governance networks as a means of advancing environmental protection. However, little is known about how such networks operate. Drawing upon two Indonesian examples within the area known as the “Coral Triangle”, this paper explains how environmental governance networks operate in the context of tourism development on small islands in developing country settings. The analysis is approached in three stages: Firstly, by reviewing the literature relevant to environmental governance networks and by proposing an applicable analytical framework. Secondly, two collaborative governance network case studies are examined. Thirdly, a revised conceptual framework is proposed to explain the operations, characteristics and effectiveness of environmental governance networks in the two case study settings. The frameworks from this paper can serve as a basis for further research into the operation of other environmental governance networks.