Capital deployment and exchange in volunteer tourism. (March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Thompson, Jamie; Taheri, Babak
• Is Part Of: Annals of tourism research. Volume 81(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-03
• Subjects: Volunteer tourism -- Bourdieu -- Cultural capital -- Economic necessity -- Habitus -- Symbolic interactionism; Tourism -- Periodicals
• DOI: 10.1016/j.annals.2019.102848
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0160-7383

Abstract

Abstract: This paper draws upon Bourdieusian literature to examine how capitals are exchanged between stakeholders in volunteer tourism settings. Through exploratory interviews at schools in Cambodia and Kenya, we identify how volunteers and hosts cognise objectified cultural value for volunteer schools. However, due to the financial hardship associated with volunteer projects, the findings illustrate how a negotiated understanding is reached for Western volunteers' economic value. This study applies an interactionist perspective to examine how social interaction and cognition precede Bourdieu's structural capital exchanges. We argue that meaning development significantly influences capital exchange and, thus, by applying the theoretical framework of Bourdieu's practice theory with Blumer's symbolic interactionism we consolidate two previously un-synthesised concepts and contribute a new avenue for sociological research. Highlights: Examination of capital exchange in volunteer tourism settings of Cambodia and Kenya. The significance of a Bourdieusian and interactionist framework is explored. The cultural value for education exists regardless of financial hardship. The 'ideal volunteer' is one who contributes economic capital to the host community.