This paper explores resident attitudes to volunteer tourism in several small communities
within Tijuana, Mexico. Social exchange theory has been used to argue that the degree
of personal benefit from volunteer tourism would predict residents’ perceptions of
the impacts of volunteer tourism and support for volunteer tourism planning and for
volunteer tourism activities. Survey research of a purposive sample targeted several
neighborhoods within Tijuana that were extensively “voluntoured”. Results indicate
mixed support for social exchange theory. Implications are discussed concerning the
need for volunteer tourism organizations to include a variety of community stakeholders
in the volunteer tourism development process.
Keywords: volunteer tourism; resident attitudes; social exchange theory