Motivations and satisfaction of volunteer tourism for the development of a destination

Abstract

Volunteer tourism as a contribution to society can improve various aspects of a destination such as the economy and society itself. The present empirical study analyzes the behavior of the volunteer tourist in relation to their motivations and satisfaction in their stay. The study was conducted in situ in the province of Manabí in Ecuador, a destination that was hit by an earthquake in April 2016, where volunteer tourists arrived to help with the reconstruction. The study was quantitative, a questionnaire was used, and factor analysis was used as a data reduction technique. The results show that the main motivational factor for which they arrived was "Professional and social development", followed by "Values and self-esteem". The evaluation of the overall satisfaction of this activity was high, which demonstrates the potential of this type of tourism for the destination. The vast majority of tourists would repeat and recommend a volunteer trip. The types of tourism most made during their stay were the community-based tourism, and sun and beach. Findings are useful for organizations that work with volunteers to take into account within their programs.