An investigation into the experiences of international volunteer tourists in Ghana

Abstract

The expectation of a memorable experience is one of the elements that motivate volunteers to travel. Experience has however remained an elusive and complex phenomenon subject to multiple interpretations. There is a lack of common language to explain the volunteer tourist’s experience. This study explores the experiences of volunteer tourists to Ghana using the Memorable Tourism Experience (MTE) theory. The results from a survey of 336 international volunteer tourists suggest that experiences are largely tied to social, cultural and tourism attributes of the destination. Such experiences may be positive or negative