Angels of the night: exploring street-aid volunteer tourists and faith-based volunteer tourism

Abstract

Recent studies have started to discuss volunteer tourism and religion, and this study aims to build on this research momentum. The paper explores street-aid volunteer tourism as a micro-niche and, more specifically, Faith-Based Volunteer tourism (FBVT). Drawing on qualitative data, this study explores the activities of three organisations and their volunteers in an international setting. In the process, the author uses the Volunteer Functions Inventory (VFI) to examine the motivations of faith-based volunteer tourist and what these motivations mean in today's secular society. The author confirms that religiosity, which is complex and multi-layered and requires further attention, should be a separate measurement. Thus, a clear framework or understanding of intrinsic/extrinsic or personal/ institutional religious motivations would help better understand religion's complexity and a deeper study of spiritual psychology.