Medical Volunteer Tourism as an Alternative to Backpacking in Peru

Godfrey, J; Wearing, S; Schulenkorf, N

Medical Volunteer Tourism as an Alternative to Backpacking in Peru

Godfrey, J Wearing, S

Schulenkorf, N

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Tourism Planning and Development, 2015, 12 (1), pp. 111 - 122
Issue Date:: 2015-01-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Godfrey, J	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Wearing, S https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5158-059X	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Schulenkorf, N https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7235-5340	en_US
dc.date.issued	2015-01-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Tourism Planning and Development, 2015, 12 (1), pp. 111 - 122	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	2156-8316	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/33485
dc.description.abstract	© 2014, © 2014 Taylor & Francis. Medical volunteer tourism (MVT) and backpacking are both alternatives to mass tourism; yet, while backpackers simply aim to “get off the beaten track”, medical volunteer tourists (MVTs) aim to additionally “give back”. This paper examines the experiences of MVTs in Peru and explores MVT as an alternative to backpacking for Generation Y. Findings are derived from a case study conducted of a commercial volunteer tourism organisation in Cusco, Peru. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 12 MVTs and 3 staff members. In this paper, we describe what the MVTs did at the local clinics, explore the contribution they made to the host community, discuss the benefits the MVTs themselves gained from the experience, and examine the similarities and differences between MVTs and backpackers. There is a wide overlap between the demographics, motivations, and experiences of MVTs and backpackers: they are generally young, stay for a longer rather than a brief period of time, focus on participatory activities, and often view their choice of travel as more ethical than mainstream mass tourism. However, MVTs differ from backpackers, in that they attempt to make a positive contribution to the host community, while simultaneously benefitting their own personal and professional development.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Tourism Planning and Development	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1080/21568316.2014.960602	en_US
dc.title	Medical Volunteer Tourism as an Alternative to Backpacking in Peru	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	1	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	12	en_US
utslib.for	1506 Tourism	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/e-Press
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Business
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Business/Management Discipline
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Students
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	1	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	12	en_US

Abstract:

© 2014, © 2014 Taylor & Francis. Medical volunteer tourism (MVT) and backpacking are both alternatives to mass tourism; yet, while backpackers simply aim to “get off the beaten track”, medical volunteer tourists (MVTs) aim to additionally “give back”. This paper examines the experiences of MVTs in Peru and explores MVT as an alternative to backpacking for Generation Y. Findings are derived from a case study conducted of a commercial volunteer tourism organisation in Cusco, Peru. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 12 MVTs and 3 staff members. In this paper, we describe what the MVTs did at the local clinics, explore the contribution they made to the host community, discuss the benefits the MVTs themselves gained from the experience, and examine the similarities and differences between MVTs and backpackers. There is a wide overlap between the demographics, motivations, and experiences of MVTs and backpackers: they are generally young, stay for a longer rather than a brief period of time, focus on participatory activities, and often view their choice of travel as more ethical than mainstream mass tourism. However, MVTs differ from backpackers, in that they attempt to make a positive contribution to the host community, while simultaneously benefitting their own personal and professional development.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/33485