An exploratory study of volunteer motivation at conferences: a case study of the First World Conference on Tourism for Development. Issue 6 (3rd June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Qi, Hongxia; Smith, Karen A.; Yeoman, Ian
• Is Part Of: Asia Pacific journal of tourism research. Volume 24:Issue 6(2019)
• Page Start: 574
• Page End: 583
• Publication Date: 2019-06-03
• Subjects: Conference volunteers -- motivation -- push and pull model -- event volunteering -- self-development -- utilitarian -- learning opportunity -- reputation -- case study -- China; Tourism -- Asia -- Periodicals; Tourism -- Pacific Area -- Periodicals; 338.4791504429
• DOI: 10.1080/10941665.2019.1610000
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1094-1665

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Taking into consideration the scarcity of research on volunteering at conferences, this study aims to examine conference volunteers' motivations by using the push–pull framework. This study explores the motivations for volunteering in a sample of 26 volunteers at the First World Conference on Tourism for Development by using semi-structured interviews. The data are analyzed by thematic analysis. The findings show that conference volunteers are driven by push factors of self-development and utilitarian and pull factors of learning opportunity, experience and reputation. The results indicate relationships between push and pull factors of conference volunteers. Implications for research and practice are provided.