Title: Guidelines for voluntourism development: a case study of undergraduate student activities in the Northeast of Thailand

Authors: Annarviya Phutcharinya; Jongrak Hong-Ngam; Supunnee Ungpansattawong; Panutporn Ruangchoengchum

Addresses: Tourism and Hospitality Innovation Management, Faculty of Management Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Thailand ' Department of Economics, Faculty of Management Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Thailand ' Department of Statistics, Faculty of Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Thailand ' College of Graduate Study in Management, Khon Kaen University, Thailand

Abstract: This paper aims to study guidelines for voluntourism development, a case study of undergraduate student activities in the Northeast of Thailand. This study used qualitative research methodology through informal and formal interviews and participant observation in addition to a wide literature analysis. The results found that most universities had the policies of promoting volunteer activities of students. The motivations and characteristics of students who participated in these activities included a spirit of service and sacrifice, self-development, and cultural understanding. Therefore, the universities, government agencies, and the private sector, especially the Ministry of Tourism and Sports should set clear policies to support voluntourism and increase students' motivation to engage in creative voluntourism. The ministry can also increase the income gained from voluntourism in Thailand, particularly from tourists who are students by developing tourism products that are consistent with the needs and expectations of the tourists.

Keywords: guidelines; voluntourism; undergraduate; student activities; Northeast of Thailand; volunteer; motivations; characteristics; universities; expectations of tourists.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEPEE.2018.093954

International Journal of Economic Policy in Emerging Economies, 2018 Vol.11 No.3, pp.262 - 269

Received: 30 Nov 2015
Accepted: 01 Feb 2016
Published online: 10 Aug 2018 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article