The purpose of this study was to identify volunteer tourists’ motivations for choosing homestay. A survey was conducted and a convenience sampling was used to select 200 respondents who had visited the Kumasi Metropolis from June-August, 2011. The push and pull motivation model was the underlying conceptual framework for the study. Hence, using a 5-point likert scale, 22 items were developed to help identify major motivating factors. Data collected were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16. Statistical techniques such as frequency and factor analysis were used to achieve the objective set.
The results of the study revealed that homestay is an emerging accommodation option in Ghana patronised extensively by volunteer tourists. Significantly, volunteer tourists choose to stay in homestay with some key motives. They are pushed by the need to immerse themselves through socio-cultural interaction with local folks and pulled by the need to conserve the environment through less pollution as well as promoting community service and development at the destination. In short, the push and pull model has proven to be useful in identifying motivational factors for homestay in the Kumasi Metropolis.
As volunteer tourism is increasingly becoming an important form of tourism in Ghana’s tourism sector, it can be argued that the major findings of this study have significant policy and managerial implications for Ghana’s core attractions and support services in tourism. These are crucial in extending length of stay and moreover, increasing satisfaction. However, the sudden trend of private homes as a commercial accommodation may trigger staged authenticity in most homes.