Volunteer tourism and the “voluntoured”: the case of Tijuana, Mexico

Abstract

Abstract This paper explores resident attitudes to volunteer tourism in several small communities within Tijuana, Mexico. Social exchange theory has been used to argue that the degree of personal benefit from volunteer tourism would predict residents' perceptions of the impacts of volunteer tourism and support for volunteer tourism planning and for volunteer tourism activities. Survey research of a purposive sample targeted several neighborhoods within Tijuana that were extensively "voluntoured". Results indicate mixed support for social exchange theory. Implications are discussed concerning the need for volunteer tourism organizations to include a variety of community stakeholders in the volunteer tourism development process. Keywords: volunteer tourismresident attitudessocial exchange theory Acknowledgements The authors would like to sincerely thank the residents of Tijuana, Mexico who took the time to complete the surveys, come to meetings, and submit to interviews that were conducted as part of this project. In addition, we are grateful to the many administrators of both Los Niños and Esperanza who provided gracious hospitality and unlimited access to the organizations in which they were a part.