Volunteer Tourism
Translated title
Investigating Volunteer Experience of Swiss Tourists and Analyzing its Socio-cultural Impacts on the Community in Nepal : A Case Study of Hamro Sunshine School.
Authors
Magar, Rojeena ; Magar, Rabina
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2024
Submitted on
2024-05-31
Pages
82
Abstract
This study examines how volunteer tourism affects both visiting volunteers and the local community at Hamro Sunshine school. Volunteer tourism combines volunteering with travel. The research uses a qualitative case study based on semi-structured interviews with both tourists/volunteers and people connected to the school. The interviews aimed to understand how aware visitors are of their impact and how local people view tourism. The study identifies several positive socio-cultural effects on the community, as reported by locals and Swiss visitors: skill development, improved students’ language use, better communication between staff and management, stronger understanding of basic skills, increased cross-cultural exchange, and economic growth and stability. At the same time, visitors pointed to negative aspects within the community: social gaps between locals and visitors, the influence of Western culture, lack of accountability among some local teachers, instances of begging and imitation, potential misuse of authority, and reduced self-confidence among some locals. For visiting volunteers, the study highlights benefits such as learning and understanding, relationship building, and personal growth (self-actualization). No significant long-term adverse effects were found for voluntourists; however, short stays and an open approach without fixed expectations can make it difficult for them to fully understand the local context. Overall, the case study presents a balanced picture of benefits and challenges for both groups.
Dette studie undersøger, hvordan frivilligturisme påvirker både de besøgende frivillige og lokalsamfundet omkring Hamro Sunshine school. Frivilligturisme er en kombination af frivilligt arbejde og rejse. Undersøgelsen er et kvalitativt casestudie baseret på semistrukturerede interviews med både turister/frivillige og personer tilknyttet skolen. Interviewene havde to formål: at afdække, hvor bevidste de besøgende er om deres indflydelse, og at forstå de lokales holdninger til turismen. Studiet identificerer flere positive socio-kulturelle effekter på lokalsamfundet, som beskrevet af lokale og schweiziske besøgende: kompetenceudvikling, forbedret elevernes sprogbrug, bedre kommunikation mellem medarbejdere og ledelse, større forståelse for grundlæggende færdigheder, øget kulturudveksling samt økonomisk vækst og stabilitet. Samtidig peger de besøgende på en række negative sider i lokalsamfundet: sociale skel mellem lokale og besøgende, vestlig kulturs påvirkning, manglende ansvarlighed blandt nogle lokale lærere, forekomster af tiggeri og efterligning, potentiel misbrug af autoritet samt svækket selvtillid hos nogle lokale. For de besøgende frivillige fremhæver studiet gevinster som læring og indsigt, relationsopbygning og personlig udvikling. Der blev ikke fundet væsentlige langsigtede negative effekter for volontører; deres korte ophold og åbne tilgang uden faste forventninger kan dog gøre det vanskeligt fuldt ud at forstå de lokale forhold. Samlet set tegner casestudiet et nuanceret billede af både gevinster og udfordringer for begge grupper.
[This apstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]