Volunteering in Tourism and Recreation Under Scrutiny: Recommendations for a Sustainable Future
As part of the World Leisure Congress, CELTH (Centre of Expertise Leisure, Tourism & Hospitality) funded three research projects, including a study on volunteering within the Dutch leisure sector. This research, conducted by Breda University of Applied Sciences and NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, focused on how volunteering in this sector can be organized in a future-proof way in a rapidly changing society.
Background and Research Method
Volunteers form the backbone of many LTH organizations: in some cases, more than two-thirds of the workforce consists of volunteers. At the same time, this form of civic engagement is under pressure due to societal developments such as aging, increasing diversity, changing motivations, and technological progress. The researchers chose a qualitative approach, using workshops, interviews, and focus groups at Frisian and five Brabant organizations: Alliantie Zuiderwaterlinie, National Monument Camp Vught, Van Gogh Village Museum Nuenen, Stichting Wildlife of Safaripark Beekse Bergen, and Het Markiezenhof in Bergen op Zoom. The results were analyzed through thematic analysis and validated in a co-design workshop with stakeholders. This contribution focuses on the findings from Brabant.
Key Findings
A striking conclusion is that the volunteer population is not very diverse, both in terms of age and cultural background. Most volunteers are older, native Dutch, and motivated by social engagement, social contacts, or the opportunity to share their knowledge. Young people and volunteers with a migration background are underrepresented. Young people mainly see volunteering as a stepping stone to their careers, while native Dutch volunteers use it to improve their language skills and integration.
Volunteering is perceived as flexible in terms of time commitment, but less so in terms of content. Young people would be more likely to participate if more short-term, clearly defined tasks were available. At the same time, older volunteers want more influence over the vision and daily operations of the organization. The current generation of people aged 65 and older is more outspoken, better educated, and used to taking responsibility.
In addition, volunteering has become highly professionalized. Volunteers sign contracts, participate in progress meetings, and are subject to codes of conduct such as the Fair Practice Code. Nevertheless, there remains a strong need for a human-centered approach: volunteers want to feel seen and heard
Further Information
For more background and insights related to this research, please refer to the following sources:
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